Methylene Blue Absorption as a Quantitative Measure of Wool Damage

Abstract

The absorption of methylene blue from buffered solutions is proposed as an index to wool deterioration, since it can be measured quantitatively by a simple titrimetric procedure. Exyerimental results are given for material damaged progressively under controlled conditions of laundering, and for fabrics containing wools of different grades and different dyeings. A linear relationship was found to exist between absorption and tensile strength. The reworked wool that was tested absorbed nearly four times as much methylene blue as the new serge used in the experiments. Optimum test conditions were determined and are discussed critically.