Machine-Washable,Water- and Oil-Repellent,Flame-Retardant Wool

Abstract

Shrink-resist treatments based on chemical degradative processes and the chlorine/Hercosett treatment, while compatible with the Zirpro flame-retardant treatment, decrease the water-repellency of wool. Addition of fluorocarbons improved the water-repellency of chlorine/Hercosett- and Zirpro- treated wool, but this was inferior to fluorocarbon-treated Zirpro wool without a chemical shrink- resist treatment, particularly after washing. Chemical shrink-resist treatments, in the absence of Hercosett, decreased the fastness of oil-repellent treatments to washing. Application of fluorocarbons by the exhaustion technique with Zirpro produced a higher degree of water-repellency than application by padding. Application of chlorine/Hercosett by the exhaustion technique to wool in fabric form was successfully followed by the Zirpro treatment without intermediate drying, indicating insolubilization of the polyamide-epichlorhydrin resin on the wool fiber, after exhaustion in alkaline conditions. When an untreated fabric, dimensionally stable to washing, was treated with the Zirpro treatment, this was fast to at least 20 washes at 60°C. Several multipurpose finishes avoiding the use of chemical degrada tive shrink-resist treatments were evaluated. Wool fabric construction and weight influence the effectiveness of a flame-retardant multipurpose finish, particularly after washing.

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