110—WASHABLE NON-IRON FABRICS FROM WOOL

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Abstract
The flat setting of shrinkproofed wool can give washable, non-iron effects on pure wool fabrics. Setting, which consists of steaming fabrics containing 50% by weight of 1% sodium bisulphite solution for 5 min on a blowing machine, prevents surface distortion of the fabrics during subsequent washing. The effect of fabric structure on the results of treatment has been studied using seventeen specially woven worsted fabrics. All these cloths can be made satisfactorily shrink-resistant and set, the combined treatments also tending to increase wet wrinkle-recovery. However, wet wrinkle-recovery is not directly related to the non-iron property of treated fabrics. The shrink proofing and setting procedures have now been developed for industrial use, and methods of overcoming problems in dyeing, preventing stiffening during setting, and producing fabrics free from relaxation shrinkage are described. Difficulties in constructing washable, minimum-iron garments from treated fabrics are discussed, and recommendations are given for precautions to be taken during making-up.