10—SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE MECHANISM OF DETERGENCY

The removal of various types of oily soils from textile fibres has been examined microscopically. Photographic evidence is presented which confirms that soils of polar character are more easily removed than non-polar soils and that apolar fibres are extremely difficult to clean by detergent action. The way in which grease is removed from raw wool during scouring is discussed with reference to (a) mechanical action, (b) the appearance of aqueous droplets in the oil-phase of an emulsion, and (c) the distribution of residual greasy matter on the scoured fibre.