Abstract
Merino wool top and fabric have been treated with steams such as superheated steam or high pressure steam. Moisture regain, water absorbency, water penetration, zeta potential, ESCA, SEM, and dyeing behavior were studied. Negative electric potential on the surface of wool fibers by steam treatment became higher than untreated. From the results of ESCA measurement, intensity of $O_{1s}$ was increased by steam treatment. Rate of dyeing and saturation dye exhaustion of wools increased by steam treatment, especially high pressure steam treatment. Moisture regain, water absorbency, water penetration, and surface appearances by SEM photographs of the steam-treated wools didn't change. There is no relationship between dyeing of the steam-treated wool and wettability to water. Therefore It seems likely that relaxation of adhesive filler in interscale of wool by steam treatment accelerate dye penetration into the fiber.