The effect of electron beam on sheep wool

The effect of accelerated electron beam with absorbed doses of 0-400 kGy on wool fibres was investigated. The S-oxidized species, CH groups, secondary structure, temperature and enthalpy of crystal cleavage, strength and elongation of the fibres were monitored. All the properties showed fluctuation with the absorbed dose and are related with change of the secondary structure. Increasing absorbed dose led to progressive predominance of β-sheet over α-helix conformation. The helical conformation favoured generation of S-sulphonate while the β-sheet suppressed it. Changes in the abundance of -CH- groups indicated a slight networking. High absorbed doses resulted in the polypeptide chain breaking and the formation of shorter fragments with helical conformation. The fibre strength was not changed significantly and the elongation, after an initial increase, monotonously decreased due to further denaturation and chain breaking.