Abstract
This study provides the optimum papain treatment method and its effect on wool/polyester blend fabrics. The enzymatic treatment condition is optimized depending on its pH level, temperature, concentration of enzyme, treatment time and concentration of activators. The characteristics of samples treated with the papain are measured using weight loss, tensile strength, whiteness, WCA, dyeing property and surface micrographs. The results are described as follows: According to measuring weight loss, tensile strength and whiteness, a pH level of 7.5, $70^{\circ}C$, 10% papain(o.w.f.) and 60minutes of treatment time are optimized for papain treatment. L-cysteine and sodium sulfite are able to activate the papain. The optimum concentrations of them are 10mM and 50mM respectively. The WCA of fabrics is decreased since papain treatment makes wool/polyester blend fabrics more hydrophilic. Scouring with papain treatment improves whiteness and dyeing property of fabrics. The dyeing property of papain-treated fabrics is enhanced simply by a single step dyeing process using a basic dye. The surface of wool treated with papain in the presence of L-cysteine shows to be descaled. The surface of wool fibers in the presence of sodium sulfite, however, shows it is hydrolyzed evenly instead of being descaled. The surface of papain treated polyester fibers shows cracks and voids.