Effect of Cellulase Enzyme on the Mechanical and Surface Properties of Regular and Compact Yarns

Abstract

The degrading property of cellulose by the enzyme is utilized in improving the surface properties by removing the protruding fibers from the surface of the yarn. In this work, the regular and compact yarns made out of same mixing at various stages of chemical processing were treated with cellulase enzyme with different levels of concentration and temperature. Measurement of the weight loss, bending rigidity, wicking rate, work of rupture, shrinkage loss, tenacity and elongation of the yarn were studied for the two different yarns. Bending rigidity and wicking rates were found to decrease and increase respectively in normal yarns compared to compact yarns. All the above trends therefore suggest that the compact yarns are not much affected by the concentration of the enzyme compared to the regular yarns. As the concentration of the enzyme was increased, the weight loss, bending rigidity, shrinkage loss, twist liveliness, tenacity, work of rupture, elongation and wicking rate were also found to vary irrespective of the spinning system.