Multi-functional wool fabrics by graft-copolymerisation with polystyrene sulphonate: their enhanced fire retardancy, mechanical properties, and stain-resistance

Multifunctionalization of natural and synthetic fibers are quite important to extend their range of applications. In this respect, a single treatment that makes a fabric multifunctionalized is quite lucrative and desired by the industry. In this work, wool fabrics were graft copolymerized with poly(styrene sulfonate) or pSS to enhance their stain-resistance, and strength. The concentration of the monomeric styrene sulfonate was varied from 5 to 40% on the weight of wool fiber. The pSS-grafted-wool fabrics were characterized by Fourier transform infra-red, elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis.