The equilibrium dye uptake and the rate of dye uptake by irreversibly supercontracted Lincoln wool-fibers were examined and were compared with those by the intact and extended fibers. These experimental results were discussed in terms of the structural transformation of α-crystalline structure to disoriented β-structure of wool fiber
The X-ray pattern indicated that the supercontraction occurred accompanying the transformation of the original oriented α-structure to disoriented β-structure of the microfibrillar keratin.
The structural transformation led to an increase of dye uptake and facilitated the dye diffusion in the bulk phase of the fibers. The increases of both the equilibrium and the rate of diffusion are attributable to the destruction of the original oriented α-structure of the microfibrillar keratin accompanying breakdown of the crosslinks between the microfibril-matrix interface.
The order of the extent of the equilibrium dye uptake and the rate of dye diffusion were supercontracted > extended > intact wool fibers.