Characterization and performance of ramie fabrics treated with modified cellulase

In this study, a modification procedure for ramie fabrics was developed using modified cellulases. Cellulase was modified by covalent coupling to Eudragit S-100, which resulted in a larger molecule, to trigger its activity toward the cellulosic fiber surface. The modified fabrics were characterized by using atomic force microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, and Kawabata Evaluation System for Fabric techniques in order to determine their morphology, thermal stability, and handle. In addition, the moisture evaporation, wicking property, and air permeability of the modified ramie fabrics were investigated. Furthermore, the weight loss and copper number were determined to identify the damages in the modified ramie fibers. The results show that the modified cellulase can prevent excessive damage to ramie fabrics with the desired performance because the hydrolytic attack of the modified cellulase is restricted to the surface of the ramie fibers.