The Application of Organosilicon Polymers to Wool

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Abstract
It is known that wool can be made non–felting by building up a film of polymer on the surface of the fibres to mask the scales known to be responsible for shrinkage. Organosilicon polymers were investigated for this purpose because these polymers can be produced from very reactive monomers, giving rise to chemically anchored polymers; also, by using monomers with similar chemical reactivities, plastics of widely different physical properties can be produced. To obtain non–feltability with a deposit of less than 5% (i) the polymer must be produced from a monomer containing a reactive grouping such as Si–Cl, groupings such as Si–OC2H5 and Si–NH2 not being satisfactory; and (ii) the polymer must be a hard solid, oils, rubbers, and waxes not being effective. Evidence is advanced which shows that initially the polymer is anchored to the fibres via –Si–NH– linkages; although this bond is hydrolysed by water, it servos the purpose of producing an oriented deposit of polymer on the–surface of the wool fibres.

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