Structure and properties of wool keratin/poly (vinyl alcohol) blended fiber

Taking into account the difficulty to spin pure keratin fibers, blended fibers of keratin/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) are developed by wet spinning. Effects of keratin content on the structure and properties of blended fibers are analyzed by the combination of scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), and tensile test. The results indicate that the blended fibers have an average diameter about 110 mu m with oblate cross section and rough surface. The hydrogen bonds are established between PVA and keratins during the spinning process. The curves of thermal performances of blended fibers are between those of keratin and PVA. In the case of the mechanical properties of blended fibers, they gradually decrease with an increase in keratin content. Hence, it should be pointed out that to obtain satisfactory fibers, the content of keratin in the blended solution has to be less than or equal to 15%.