AbstractWhen liquids are sorbed by wool or other textile fibers it is necessary to distinguish between sorbed liquid and liquid held mechanically on the surface and in the interstices between fibers. A method is described by which the latter can be removed by washing the fibers under anhydrous conditions with liquid propane at −78°C. The propane is subsequently distilled off at room temperature leaving the sample of wool containing sorbate. Small corrections are made for loss of sorbate during washing and distillation. The method is accurate to about ±2. Sorption curves and saturation values are recorded for ethanol,n‐propanol, isopropanol, acetone, andn‐butanol and initial rates of sorption forn‐pentanol,n‐hexanol,n‐pentane, and benzene. A theory is proposed in which it is postulated that holes of various sizes can be produced by thermal fluctuations and also interactions with the sorbate. A consequence of the theory is that even large molecules can penetrate the fiber if given sufficient time. The experimental values of the initial rate of sorption are interpreted in terms of the volume, shape and ability to form hydrogen bonds of the sorbate molecule. The rate of sorption is very sensitive to quite small modification of the wool fiber. The volume sorption at saturation is found to be constant for water, methanol, ethanol,n‐propanol, isopropanol, andn‐butanol with a mean value of 34.
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