Several commercially available proteins were grafted onto wool fabric using diepoxides as cross-linking agents and a 140-160°C cure. From 1.5 to 5.5% protein was grafted, onto the fabric to yield modified wools with moderate-to-good shrinkproofing properties, small losses in wrinkle recovery, and moderate-to-large increases in flexural rigidity. Collagen- extracted Colloid 5V grafted onto wool with glycerol diglycidyl ether (GDE) gave durable grafts with desirable properties, while other proteins (zein, casein, collagen-extracted Colloid I) with GDE gave protein-grafted fabrics with somewhat less desirable properties. Other commercial diepoxides gave unsatisfactory protein grafts to wool.
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Fong, W., Whitfield, R.E., Miller, L.A., and Brown, A.H., WoolFabric Stabilization by Interfacial Polymerization, II. Developmental Studies of Process Variables , Am. Dyestuff Reptr., 51, 325-334 (1962).
4.
Lundgren, H.P., Pardo, C.E., and Foster, R.E., Shrinkproofing of Wool-containing Textiles with Polyepoxides and Polyamides in the Presence of a Reducing Agent, U. S. 3,049,445 (Aug. 14, 1962).
