Effects of Epoxide and Silicone Polymers on the Mechanical and Performance Properties of Wool Fabric

To improve the wrinkle recovery as well as the performance properties of garments, wool fabric is treated separately with epoxide, silicone polymers, and a mixture of the two, where the two reagents are sequentially applied in a simple pad-dry-cure process. Each reagent improves the wrinkle recovery of wool by a different mechanism. The epoxide improves wrinkle recovery by changing the viscoelastic properties of wool fibers and increasing their resilience. This contrasts with silicone polymers, which act largely by decreasing the frictional component of wrinkling through the formation of a thin film of polymers on the fiber surface. Electron spectroscopy of chemical analysis is used to investigate the chemical changes. Mechanical properties closely related to wrinkle recov ery of treated fabrics are analyzed in relation to changes in the structure of the fibers. The effects of the silicone polymer and epoxide on the wrinkle recovery of wool fabric are additive when the reagents are applied in a two-stage procedure. Fabrics treated by this method show better abrasion resistance, high tear strength, and better hand than fabrics treated solely with the epoxide.