Other Wool Processes

 

Dyeing:

In both woollen and worsted manufacturing there are three stages at which wool is usually coloured. The dye can be applied to fibre - in the form of loose wool or tops - or yarn. Garments or pieces of fabric may also be dyed.

 

Shrink proofing:

Wool shrinkage is caused by the outer layer of the fibres catching and interlocking after the wool becomes wet. Several techniques have been developed to prevent shrinkage and a new one is on the way. In the 1950s, Australia's CSIRO and the Australian Wool Board found a way to shrink-proof wool by treating it with a soft resin. The resin forms a thin film over the fibre surface and prevents its protruding scales from entangling. This is known as the Chlorine-Hercosett process. Yarns are treated before they are woven into fabrics. Other chemical shrink-proofing processes have been more recently developed. Now Australian scientists are investigating a way of genetically breeding sheep to produce shrink-proof wool.

 

Moth proofing:

Wool's natural protein composition makes it vulnerable to some moths and beetles. Mothproofing uses a recycled chemical process to help protect carpets and upholstery against insect damage.