Quarterly Scientific-Research Goljaam

Special properties of Iranian wool such as elasticity compared with Merino wool leads to more popularity of Persian carpet at an international level. By using of finishing process it is possible to improve some of the physical properties of wool fibers such as fleece modification, increasing of lightness and whiteness and producing a smoother surface that result a better quality carpet. In this research influence of proteases on Iranian wool was investigated and variation in concentration and time was optimized. The results indicated that increasing of enzyme leads to increasing of loss of weight, strength and strain. With prolonged enzymatic processing it may obtain better whiteness, lightness, and bending. Changes in whiteness, bending and fineness and other properties such as weight loss, strength reduction and strain would be discussed.

One of the pre-treatment processes on silk is degumming that has much influences on other processing. There are various degumming methods and each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. In this research protease (Alkalase) and Keliab (remaining ashes of "Oshnow" plant obtained from Qom, Yazd and Kashan) used as environmentally friendly compounds for degumming of silk. Different concentration of enzyme with soda ash and surfactant and also Keliab were examined. Some properties of degummed samples such as weigh loss, strength, lightness and whiteness were tested and surface morphology also was observed by SEM. The degummed yarns then dyed with madder, using two types of mordant namely stannous chloride (SnCl2) and aluminium-potassium sulphate AlK(SO4)2. The color coordinates L*a*b* and washing fastness and light fastness of samples were evaluated. The results showed that weigh loss percentages, strength and whiteness of samples varied due to degumming with Alkalase and Keliab. However, washing fastness and light fastness of madder dyed samples were acceptable.

 Today, the use of enzymes and antibacterial protein fibers is greatly favored by researchers to protect textile against microbial attacks, spots, discoloration and to increase shelf life of silk carpets in museums. This study investigates the effect of protease and nanosilver on silk yarn. Silk yarn with 140 Tex as a carpet pile treated with protease and nanosilver in different conditions and their antimicrobial properties against two bacteria, i.e. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was studied and compared. Also, some characteristics of products including weight loss, whiteness index and color indices, have been investigated in SEM images. Using nanosilver alone showed excellent antimicrobial properties against microbes with different concentrations while reduced the whiteness of silk yarn. However, using 2% protease led to enhanced antibacterial properties, and whiteness. On these bases, concurrent use of protease and 30 ppm of nanosilver produced silk yarn with excellent antibacterial properties i.e. 100% bacterial reduction.