NON-SHRINK WOOL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23831, 10 June 1939, Page 6

NON-SHRINK WOOL

RESULTS FROM RESEARCH NEW DRY PROCESS The successful development of a reliable unshrinkable process, in addi tion to those already available to the industry, is a matter for congratulation, says the' last number of the I.W.S. News, journal of the International Wool Secretariat, which represents in Britain and on the Continent the interests of New Zealand. Australian and South African wool growers. The so-called shrinkage of woollen fabrics is often more a matter of felting of the fibres, due to the interlocking of the edges of the microscopif scales which surround the wool fibre than of true shrinkage The "felt ability " of wool is, of course, its great virtue for many purposes, but when felting is not desired it is anything but a virtue. The' several processes all aim at in one way or another, of trie projecting edges of tht tiny scales. After years of patient ex perimentation in relation to tops, yarn and fabric, the unshrinkable process of the Wool Industries Research Associa tion evolved at Torridon research laboratory is now being taken up b\ the industry, both in the West Riding and the Midlands Several mills have already installed the necessary plant while others are proceeding with plans which will make large-scale production possible One virtue of the Torri don Drocess is that satisfactory treat ment is covered bv the Dublished soeci fication and a Certification Trade Mark oi the Board of Trade identifies the article for the consumer. The Wool Industries Research Asso ciation wisely draws a distinction be tween control of felting of the wool fibre and shrinkage due to changes in area or shape of a garment due to re lease of mechanical stresses acquirer! during manufacture or finishing, as for example, those caused by boardin? out The W.I.R.A process, in common with anv other, will onlv prevent felt ing, and not shrinkage due to good l being marketed in a stretched condi tion. This distinction should be appreciated not only by manufacturers, but by the public, if misunderstand ing is not to arise. The claim is made from Nottingham that a quite new process enables wool to be rendered completely unshrinkable by a dry process, applicable a' any stage of manufacture from raw wool. Cloths so treated it is claimed, stand up to hard wear and washing and retain the new property given them, while losing nothini? of the natural wool advantages of strength and softness Chlorine is not used in this process, and the final stage removes all chemicals and leaves the wool 100 per cent, pure