UNSHRINKABLE WOOL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1940, Page 9

UNSHRINKABLE WOOL

IMPORTANCE OF RECENT RESEARCH. NEW PROCESS PERFECTED. Since the Research Department of Messrs Tootal Broadhurst Lee Co., Ltd.. Manchester, accomplished their task of treating cotton, rayon and linen materials to giVe to them the resilient properties of wool or silk inasmuch as they resisted and recovered from creases. their attention has been directed to the control of the shrinking or felting properties of wool. In this connection Messrs Tootal Broadhurst Lee Co., Ltd., have acquired an invention which they are satisfied really does solve the problem. Coming at a time when a number of synthetic fibres are being introduced as substitutes for wool this invention will be of great importance to the wo,bl I producers of New Zealand and other countries.

For many years it has been known that wool can be made unshrinkable (that is, non-felting) by stripping the scales from the fibres, but this stripping is most undesirable for the scales being tougher than the inner fibre substances, afford it some protection. Wool made completely unshrinkable by these older methods may not wear long and is often very" harsh to handle. For these reasons it has hitherto been necessary to make a compromise. The treatment had to stop short of the complete removal of the fibre scales to avoid serious damage to the wool, but such treatment only gave partial, as distinct from complete unshinkability. The manufacturers believe that if the process of the invention is properly carried out it can produce complete

unshinkability whilst the wool retains its natural desirable properties and there is no appreciable removal of the protective scales. As in the course of treatment only the protective scales of each fibre are affected there is no deterioration of the inner fibre substance and as the treatment is applied to air dry wool controlled and equal penetration can be effected to the inside of tightly packed wool materials.

The new process for the first time allows wool in all its various forms, tops, yarn, fabric and garments to be unshrinkable without any appreciable loss of its original qualities of softness and durability.