Study on Structure and Properties of Stretched and Slenderized Yak Hair Fibre

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of stretching slenderization on the structure and properties of yak hair using an optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, tensile curves and dyeability. The SEM results show that stretching slenderization can decrease the diameter of yak hair, and the scale of the fibres is elongated and thinner. As well, the structure of the fibre scale is looser after stretching, and some scale cells are damaged. The stretching process results in the structural transformation of yak hair from an α-keratin to a predominantly β-keratin crystalline structure by the Raman analysis. Through the tensile curves, the slenderizing of the yak hair at different stretching rates is analyzed. The breaking tenacity increases gradually in terms of the stretching rate and breaking elongation decreases. Optical microscope photographs and dyeing rate analysis are used to observe the changes in the dyeability of yak hair before and after the stretching. The results show that after stretching, there is a significant improvement in the dyeing properties of yak hair.

Citation

Liu, J., Hu, Y. and Yu, W. (2009), "Study on Structure and Properties of Stretched and Slenderized Yak Hair Fibre", Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-13-03-2009-B001