Wool accepted for cars

Press, 18 July 1980, Page 13

Wool accepted for cars

Wool Research Organisation scientists have swayed the giant American 3M organisation to adapt its internationallyknown Scotchgard criteria for New Zealand-manufac-tured woollen products. Because of the WRONZ inspired-breakthrough the Todd Motor Company will use 14,000 metres of a predominantly wool blend cloth for upholstery in luxury range cars, this year. * New Zealand is thought to be the only country in the world to have gained Scotchgard for a . predominantly woollen ’ fabric. Previously the process had. , been . exclusively applied to synthetic mat-' erials;- ■ Wool - textiles do not usually require special

treatment .as they are naturally soil; resistant and only where the material is subjected to rigorous usage is Scotchgard neces- ' sary. Scotchgard guarantees a fabric has been treated to withstand grease and oil staining. It is a much sought after label representing quality control in much the same manner as ' Woolmark is applied to woollen products. , The 85 per cent wool — 15 per cent nylon fabric blend used by Todds is treated with a specially applied resin to make it stain-resistant Dr John McLaughlin, of -the Wool Research Organisation, said that initial .samples, of . the, resintreated cloth were sent back from the United

States as unsuitable for the Scotchgard symbol. “When we had a look at their testing procedure we found that they were using an abrasive to score the fabric,” he said. “They were rubbing it with sandpaper’ which destroyed the wool fibres." The Organisation made representations to 3M presenting photographic evidence and dye-testing samples to -prove that the testing criteria were too severe. “I suppose two or three letters passed between us jy before they agreed to grant a Scotchgard licence; for wool used in New Zealand conditions," said I Dr McLaughlin. .' “As far as I am aware it is the first time Scotchgard has been applied to wool textiles.”