Study on the effect of microwave irradiation on the physical properties and structures of wool fabric

Microwave heating has been proved to be more rapid, uniform and efficient, and easily penetrate to particle inside. To investigate the effect of microwave irradiation on the physical property, chemical structure, surface morphological structure and fine structure of wool fabric in different humid state, wool fabric was treated with microwave irradiation at different conditions. The physical properties of the treated wool fabric were investigated. The structures of the untreated and treated wool were investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results show that the physical properties of the treated wool in different humid state were changed; microwave irradiation can accelerate structure adjustment of wool fibers.