ABSTRACT
The effects of various solvents on Egyptian wool varieties; namely, Mariouty and Fallahi, as compared with Merino wool were investigated with respect to the capability of inducing physical and/or chemical changes. Nitrogen content, alkali solubility, yellowing index, tensile strength as well as electron microscopic examination, X-ray diffraction and infrared analyses were performed. All solvent pretreatments showed a small decrease in the nitrogen content values as compared with the untreated wool mates. No significant alkali solubility was seen for wool fibers pretreated with the studied solvents. Reduction in the tensile strength was noticed to a certain extent in the pretreated wools. Electron microscopy showed some modifications in the cell membrane complex. Solvent treated wools exhibited relatively lower crystalline orientation and lower intensity as compared with the untreated ones. Infrared spectroscopic analysis gave absorption bands that varied according to the nature of solvent pretreatments