AU658195B2 - Process for giving wool a felt-free finish - Google Patents

Description

OPI DATE 11/02/93 AO.JP DATE 08/04/93 APPLN. ID 18978/92 PCT NUMBER PCT/CH92/00121 AU921 8978 (51) Internationale Patentkclassf~kation 5 (11) Internationale Veriiflentlichungsnumnier: WO 93/01346 D-06M 11/50, 11/55, DO6B 3/04 Al (43) Internationales Verbffentlichungsdatum: 21. Januar 1993 (21.01.93) (21) Internationalcs Aktenzeichen: PCT/CH92/00121 (81) Bestimmungsstaaten: AU, BR, CA, CS, JP, KR, RU, US, curop~iisches Patent (AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FR, (22) Internationales Anmeldedatum: 24. Juni 1992 (24.06.92) GB, GR, IT, LU, MC, NL, Prioritiitadaten: Veriiffentlicht P 4122 010.2 3. J uli 1991 (03.07.9 1) DE Mit internationalemt RecIherclienbcriczt.

Mit geainderten Ansprdchen und Erkiding.

(71) Anmelder (flit alle Bestirnmungssten ausser US): SCHO- ELLER HARDTURM AG [CH/CH]; Hardturmstrasse 122, CH-8005 Zflrich (CH).

(72) Erfinder; und 6 9 Erfinder/Anmelder (hurfi US) HAEFELY, Hans, Rudolf ICH-/CH]; Kempfhofweg 10, CH-8049 ZOrich (CH).

THIERSTEIN, Kurt Im Sydeffideli 39, CH- 8037 Zdrich (CH).

(74)Anwalt: TROESCH SCI-EIDEGGER WERNER AG; Siewerdtstrasse 95, CH-8050 Z~rich (CH).

(54) Title: PROCESS FOR GIVING WOOL A FELT-FREE FINISH (54) Bezelchnung: VERFAHREN ZUM FILZFREI-AUSR{)STEN VON WOLLE (57) Abstract In order to finish or treat wool or woollen fibre so as to provide as felt-free a surface as possible, the wool or fibres are briefly treated by means of a substantially strongly acid, aqueous solution of potassium permanganate.

(57) Zusammenfassung Um Wolle resp. Wollfasern m~glichst oberflilchlich und raserschonend filzfrei auszurilsten bzw. zu behandeln, wird die Wolie resp. die Faser mittels einer im wesentlichen stark sauren, wilssrigen L.6sung von Kaliumpermanganat kurzzeitig behandelt.

A Process for the Non-Feltina Finishina of Wool The present invention relates to a process for the non-felting finishing of wool or wool fibres.

It is generally known that, in washing or, generally, during prolonged contact with water, wool gradually becomes felted., the inidividual fibres in wool fabrics lose their elasticity and fizz and the density of the textile material increases. Woollen garments must therefore either be drycleaned or else be washed very gently certainly unfavourable conditions at a time when all garments should be universally and unproblematically machine-washable.

For this reason, there are known numerous non-felting finishing processes of wool or wool fibres, and the most widely employed and best known finishing process is the so-called Chlorine-Hercosett-Process which is predominantly applied on wool tops and which produces good results in non-felting finishing.

A thorough discussion of this process can be omitted since this process is very well known in the specialised field or from related literature. The chlorination of the wool fibres employed in the first stage of this process is for reasons of environmental protection the more problematic the longer it lasts, since, as a result of the chlorination stage, absorbed chlorine compounds, so-called AOX substances (=Absorbable, Organic Halogen compounds), are formed in the waste waters. The future legal regulations governing the admissible AOX quantities in chemical plants are such that the further employment of the Chlorine-Hercosett-Process appears questionable. Another shortcoming of this process is the application of a polyamide resin in an other process stage in order to enhance the non-felting effect and to protect the wool fibre core on the wool fibre that has been treated with chlorine.

In view of these shortcomings, the enzymatic treatment of wool has been developed, reference being made to the paper by H.R. Haefely, Textilveredelung [Textile Dressing] 24, (1989), 7, 8, pp. 271 276. It is true that by employing this "enzyme process" one can do without the undesirable polyamide, but practice has shown that a chemical pretreatment of the wool in a first stage, though with greatly reduced effectiveness, is required now as before.

I 787z/jrb It is therefore a goal of the present invention to create a non-felting finishing process whose efficiency in non-felting finishing matches the processes known today, in which, however, a chemical pretreatment with chlorine can be completely omitted.

There is disclosed herein a process for the non-felting finishing of wool or wool fibres based on potassium permanganate in an acid medium, wherein the wool or wool fibres is (are) treated for a short time in a highly acidic aqueous reagent solution of potassium permanganate, with the reagent solution spent during the treatment and/or removed by the wool or wool fibres treated being constantly replenished or replaced.

The application of potassium permanganate in alkaline solution or together with sodium hypochlorite for the non-felting finishing of wool has previously been known.

Such processes which are based on potassium permanganate, however, were largely replaced by the Chlorine-Hercosett-Process, since the non-felting finishing effect with maximum conservation of the wool was too poor. Obviously, the oxidising action of the potassium permanganate in an alkaline medium or together with the sodium hypochlorite did not suffice to finish the wool or the wool fibres in non-felting fashion such that they would meet today's norms for washing operations. The employment of potassium permanganate in an acid medium has also been tried, but the non-felting finishing was such that the fibre was heavily affected when the non-felting finishing was adequate.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, and unexpectedly, it turned out that, by employing a moderately concentrated, highly acidic (pH <1) aqueous potassium permanganate solution and by treating the wool or the wool fibre for an extremely short-time, the same can be finished in a non-felting fashion to comply with the known and required norms, without affecting the fibre core.

The concentration of the potassium permanganate in the reagent solution is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 3 g potassium permanganate per litre of the solution, whereas the concentration of industrial-grade, concentrated sulphuric acid (62 is in the range of 15 to 40 g per litre of the solution.

[n:\libtt]00233:BGC 3 The treatment time or the time of contact of the aqueous potassium permanganate solution with the wool or the wool fibres is 5-20 seconds, preferably 5 to seconds.

When employing the preferred process of the invention, it turned out that it may be advantageous, depending on the quality or the origin of the wool treated, to repeat the short-term treatment with a highly acidic aqueous solution of potassium permanganate, with the wool or the wool fibres being treated or cleaned after each treatment with a reducing agent, such as sodium sulphite, in order to eliminate the resulting brownstone.

Furthermore, it is suggested that the wool or the wool fibres be preferably finished in a non-felting fashion by running them, preferably in the form of wool tops, together with a highly acidic, aqueous potassium permanganate solution through an almost completely enclosed flow duct or a flow channel with inlet and outlet openings.

In doing that, it is important, and indeed essential, that the packing density of the wool tops in the flow duct or the channel is such that the reagent solution is carried by the wool top substantially at a constant relative speed. Accordingly, a bath ratio of 6-9 Slitre/kg wool in the flow duct is preferred.

:There is disclosed hereil an apparatus for the substantially continuous nonfelting finishing of wool or wool top conveyed through a reactor with a reagent solution, comprising infeeding means for introducing the wool or wool top and applying the reagent solution; and downstream from the infeeding means, a substantially enclosed flow duct or flow channel with inlet and outlet openings for passing the wool or wool top to be treated together with the reagent solution.

There is further disclosed herein an apparatus for the substantially continuous treatment of a material with a reagent solution conveyed by a reactor, comprising: infeeding means for introducing the material and applying the reagent solution; and downstream from the infeeding means, a longitudinally extended flow duct or flow channel with inlet and outlet openings arranged at substantially each end for passing the material to be treated together with the reagent solution, with the duct or channel being substantially enclosed on all sides over the entire length to enable a specific packing density to be set so that the reagent solution is conveyed through the flow duct or the flow channel as a consequence of conveying the material.

4 A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. I is a longitudinal section of a flow channel configured according to the invention; Fig la is the cross section of the flow channel of Fig. 1 along line I-I; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of another flow channel; Fig. 3 is the longitudinal section of a semi-circular flow duct formed by a trough-like vessel with a rotor mounted therein; Fig. 4 is the cross section of the apparatus according to Fig. 2 along line II-II; and Fig. 5 is the longitudinal section of two apparatuses according to Fig. 3, arranged in series.

Fig. 1 shows, in a longitudinal section and schematically, the course of the non- S: felting finishing of wool or wool tops according to the invention in a flow duct or an enclosed flow channel accor ding to the invention.

For finishing a wool top 1 in non-felting fashion, first a highly acidic aqueous potassium permanganate solution is prepared in a separate mixing vessel or mixing tube 5. To achieve this, an aqueous potassium permanganate solution 2a, together with an aqueous sulphuric solution 2b containing a wetting agent, such as e.g. ethylene oxide adducts, are conveyed to the mixing tray 5 and mixed for a short time to form a homogeneous reagent solution 7.

This is then immediately run into an inlet tray 3, where the solution 7 is brought into contact with the wool top 1. It is important not to add and mix the sulfuric acid solution 2b, containing the wetting agent, with the potassium permanganate solution 2a until just before contact with the wool top 1 since the potassium permanganate detrimentally affects the effectiveness of the wetting agent or oxidises the same fairly quickly. On the other hand, it would be disadvantageous to let the sulphuric acid solution 2b and the potassium permanganate solution 2a directly into the inlet tray 3 as in that case the homogeneity of the solution is not positively ensured, whereby the uniformity of the finishing of the wool would not be ensured.

A preferred embodiment was based on a potassium permanganate solution 2a having a concentration of 50 g KMnO 4 /litre. The concentration of the admixed sulphuric acid solution 2b is 35 g of industrial concentrated sulphuric acid (62 per litre of the solution. The ratio of mixing currents 2a and 2b in the selected example is 1:18. In another example, approx. 2 g/litre of a polyphosphonic acid were added to the sulphuric acid solution. This prevent: the precipitation of brownstone (Mn02), and only this makes a proper surface treatment possible.

The wool top 1 is introduced via a transport roller 9, which is, for example, driven, together with the reagent solution, through an inlet opening 11 into an enclosed flow channel 13 which, as shown in Fig. la, has rectangular cross section. To achieve an adequate wetting of the wool when introducing it into the flow channel 13, a commercial wetting agent is preferably added to the solution, as mentioned above. Since the packing density of the wool top in the flow duct 13 is comparatively high, the reagent solution 7, together with the wool top, are simultaneously passed to the outlet opening 15 of the flow duct or the enclosed channel. In the present example, the packing density is approximately 110 g wool per litre of the channel volume, and the selected bath ratio is about 6.5 litres of reagent solution per kg of wool.

787z/jrb -6- After leaving the flow duct or the enclosed channel 13 at the outlet opening 15, the wool top 1 is pulled off over removing rollers 17 and the present fully converted reagent solution is simultaneously squeezed out. The reagent solution which is also discharged from duct 13 runs over an edge 19 into a collecting basin 21 in which the fully converted reagent solution 23 is collected. It is either subsequently re-concentrated via a line 25 and passed to the inlet tray 3 or used otherwise or discharged into the waste waters in neutrilised form.

The continuous conveying of the reagent solution 7 through the flow duct or the enclosed channel 13 requires that fresh reagent solution 5 is continuously fed to the inlet vessel 3, ensuring that, even without corresponding control, a largely constant concentration gradient throughout the whole apparatus is achieved. Owing to the comparatively high packing density of the wool top to be treated in the flow duct, a constant bath ratio is ensured along the entire path of the reaction. In the selected embodiment, the amount of reagent solution 7 continuously fed into the inlet vessel 3 is approximately 4.4 litre/min., while 656 g Wool per minute are simultaneously run through the flow duct 13.

Hence it stands to reason that the reaction time or the time of contact of the reagent solution with the wool can be influenced by adjusting the length of the channel or the duct 13 and/or through the conveying rate at which the wool top 1 is run through the duct or the channel 13. For example, tie time of contact or the reaction time can amount to only a few seconds, 5 10 sec.

Another advantage of the apparatus according to the invention is that the volume of the reagent solution may be kept to a minimum, for 1 kg wool top, for instance, a treatment bath with a volume of 5 12 litres is required. It goes without saying that this value is a function of the packing density in the flow duct.

787z/jrb -7- It is essential for the non-felting finishing according to the invention that the wool or the wool tops is (are) completely wetted by the solution of chemicals wh°.n introduced into, or when inside, the infeeding vessel and that, while the wool is passing through the closed channel to the outlet opening 15, the reaction has proceeded so far that the chemical treatment of the outermost layer of the single wool fibres, or wool hair, the so-called cuticula, has largely been terminated according to the requirements for a non-felting finishing, whereas the actual fibre core, or the cortex, has not yet been corroded by the reagent solution. To achieve non-felting finishing of the wool with the greatest possible uniformity, it is also important that the bath ratio is kept constant along the entire channel, which necessitates that the infeed 7 of reagent solution or bath matches the infeeding of the wool top 1. By adequately selecting the packing density, it can further be ensured that the relative speed of bath to wool can be kept constant inside the channel 13.

In the course of the above-described non-felting finishing, it may occur from time to time that there is formed manganese dioxide or so-called brownstone which is precipitated and may, for instance, deposit in the wool top and in the treatment vessel. It is true that it has been proved that by using sulphuric acid in combination with polyphosphonic acid products, the formation of brownstone in the bath can be greatly reduced. Nevertheless, after-treatment is required following the reaction stage described above, and this can be done in conventional fashion by means of reducing agents.

Occasionally, depending on the quality of the wool and the condition and amount of secondary fibre materials, the formation of manganese dioxide on the wool can result only in an inadequate non-felting finishing, since the reaction with potassium permanganate is impeded. It may therefore be advantageous to repeat the short treatment with a highly acidic potassium permanganate solution, by arranging the apparatus of the invention in series, as shown in the figures. This requires that a cleaning stage has to be interposed between each of the non-felting treatment processes, with customary reducing agents, sodium bisulphie, employed for cleaning from, or "washing out," brownstone.

787z/jrb -8- Moreover, the reactor according to the invention, as shown in Figure 1, also enables any textile or even non-textile, fibre-like stretches and strands to be treated with a reagent solution having a high reaction rate in relation to the textile or non-textile material to be treated. In doing so, it is important that the reaction Is limited to the outermost layer of the fibres or single fibrils only, and that the fibre core (cortex), for instance, as mentioned above, is not corroded by the reagent solution.

Apart from that, the reactor according to the invertlon, as shown in Figure 1, also has the great advantage that no pumping and conveying means for conveying the reagent solution have to be provided for, as, due to the packing density selected, the latter [solution] is transported along with the textile material to be treated. Figure 1, for instance, shows clearly that the overflow edge 19 at the end has a substantially higher level than the reagent solution in the inlet tray 3. If, for Instance, the packing density were set too low, or else if the flow duct were not closed, the reagent solution would constantly flow backward and a conveying of the reagent solution with the textile material would not be possible at all.

In Fig. 2, on the other hand, another embodiment of a proposed reaction duct or the closed channel 13 according to the invention is shown, wherein the flow duct is not rectilinearly ascending but semi-circular in the direction of conveying the wool top material 1 to be treated. Both the inlet tray and the outfeeding means are substantially analogous to the apparatus in Fig. 1, with Fig. 2, however, providing a collecting basin 15 at the end of the flow channel 13, with a discharge duct 19.

The advantage of the reactor according to Fig. 2 is that, as a consequence of the very large radius of curvature of the flow duct 13, the friction of the wool top 1 is greatly reduced. The friction, caused by the pulling action of the rollers 17. can be reduced even more by providing longitudinal grooves in the walls of the flow duct 13.

787z/jrb -9- In Fig. 3, another preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention as per Fig. 2 is shown in longitudinal section. It is based on a vessel 12 with a trough-like, semi-circular bottom, with the bottom being largely circular. Mounted in the stationary trough 12 is a closed rotor 41, the axis of rotation 43 of which is in the centre of the circular bottom of the trough 12 and is connected with the trough in such a way that the rotor 41 is freely rotatable. It is essential that the radius r of the rotor 41 is smaller than the inner radius R of the vessel bottom 10. By arranging the rotor 41 within the vessel 12, the above-described flow duct or the closed channel 13 of the invention results from the peripheral surface 45 of the rotor 41 and the inner bottom surface 10 of the vessel 12, with the duct or the channel 13 serving to convey the wool top 1 from the inlet opening 11 to the outlet opening 15. Before the inlet opening 11 the trough 12 is at the end provided with a projecting member 3 which forms the inlet tray, and behind tile outlet opening 15, with an overflow edge 16 or an overflow duct 19 for the discharge of the reagent solution. Apart from that, the rotor according to Fig. 3 functions in analogy to the apparatus according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a cross section of the rotor along line II-II according to Fig. 3, which clearly shows that the rotor 41 is mounted in the trough-lik vessel 12 so that it almost fills the latter but is nevertheless freely rotatable. At the lower end of the rotor 41 one recognizes a flow duct or the closed channel 13 through which the wool is conveyed.

Depending on the form of the material to be treated or the material to be conveyed, it may suffice for tile rotor 41 to be freely rotatable. If the wool tops are very loose or tear easily, it is possible to drive the rotor or the rotary drum 41 in synchronism with the removing rollers 17. It is furthermore possible to '-ovide the surface 45 of the drum 41 with transverse grooves, whereas the bottom of the trough-like vessel 12 preferably has longitudinal grooves. Finally, with regard to the cleaning purposes, it Is advantageous to arrange discharge means at the lower part of the trough 12 so that the groove or channel 13 can be emptied.

787z/jrb 10 With the apparatus according to Fig. 3 and 4, one can work under substantially the same reaction conditions as described with reference to Figure 1. Basically the same requirements and reaction conditions apply as listed under Fig. 1. Furthermore, reference is made to the following example: ExampLe of a 1: 1 prototype of a rotary apparatus according to Figures 3 and 4 for performing tests.

A prototype with the following dimensions was used for performing operational tests of non-felting finishing of wool tops: r 50.0 cm; R= 51.2 cm; resulting height of the reaction channel 13: 1.2 cm; width of rotary roller or of the rotor 41: 61.3 cm; length of reaction channel: 122 cm (the channel expands across an angular sector of 138.5*); cross-section of the reaction channel: 75.7 cm 2 The following surface areas result In the longitudinal section according to Fig. 3: inlet zone in accordance with reference number 3: 170 cm 2 flow duct or channel 13: 147 cm 2 outlet zone defined by reference pnmber 16: 31 cm 2 A wool top with the following characteristics was used for tests: number of individual card ends: 36; weight of individual card end: 20 g/m; weight of entire wool top: 720 g/m; length of wool top immersed in the apparatus according to Figure 4: 155 cm, 24 cm of which are in the inlet zone; 122 cm, in the reaction channel; and 9 cm, in the outlet zone.

Weight of fleece in immersed zone: 1.12 kg: volume of fleece in immersed zone: 0.86 litres; weight of fleece in reaction channel 13: 878 g; volume of fleece In reaction channel 13: 0.68 litres; wool top density in channel zone 13: 0.095 g/cm 3 787z/jrb 11 Finishing tests were carried out under the following conditions: bath volume without wool top: 21.4 litres; bath volume with introduced wool tops: 20.5 litres; bath volume without wool in reaction channel 13: 9.28 litres; bath volume in channel 13 with introduced wool tops: 8.6 litres.

Hence the following bath ratios are obtained: referred to the entire apparatus: 18.3 litres/kg wool; referred to reaction channel 13: 9.8 litres/kg wool.

Conditions of operating the apparatus: Table 1: Wool Top Wool Top Speed Throughput Bath Throughput Contact Time, Immersion Zone (m/min (kg/min.) 2.88 3.60 4.32 5.04 5.76 (litre/min.) 22.5 28.1 33.7 39.3 44.9 (sec) 23.2 18.6 15.5 13.3 11.6 The ratio of the is largely constant.

speed of the wool tops to the speed of the reagent bath Rates of rotation of the rotor 41 (circumference 3.14 m): Table 2 Wool top speed (m/min) Rate of rotation (1/min) 1.27 1.91 2.55 787z/jrb 12 With the above-mentioned operating conditions and the proposed apparatus in accordance with the invention, wool tops were finished in non-felting fashion with the aid of various solution. of oxidising agents, in accordance with the process using potassium permanganate solution as defined according to the invention, etc. Finally it is a matter of optimisation with the oxidising agent selected, the concentration selected, the set pH range, how the apparatus according to the invention is to be operated or which operating data are to be selected.

Also the apparatus according to Fig. 3 and 4, in analogy to the apparatuses according to Fig. 1 and 2, can be employed wherever a textile or non-textile material must be finished with a solution of high reactivity within a short time, wherein the reaction is to occur only on the surface of the material.

Figure 5 shows two apparatuses according to Figure 4 arranged in series.

Wool top 1 is immersed into the reagent solution 7 via the inlet opening 11 or the projecting member 3 and pulled into a first semi-circular reaction channel 13a via the inlet opening 11. This flow channel 13a is formed by a first vessel 12a with a semi-circular bottom and the rotor 41a which is mounted in it and rotates around the axis 43a of rotation. After flowing through this first reaction channel 13a, the wool top is conveyed via the shoulder 51 into reaction channel 13b downstream which is formed in matching fashion by a second vessel 12b with a semi-circular bottom and the matching rotor 41b mounted therein. In analogy to the apparatus according to Fig. 3, the wool top leaves -he flow channel 13b via the outlet opening 15 and is pulled off in the removing rollers or rollers 17 in which the reagent solution is squeezed out.

The reagant solution itself is removed via the overflow edge 16.

By arranging such semi-circular vessels in series, it is possible to increase the passage rate of the wool top considerably and at the same time, to keep the time of contact constant by extending the path of the reaction.

Of course, depending on requirements and needs, three or more such apparatuses can be arranged in series. The same, of course, also holds for appae'atuses shown in Figures 1 to 4.

787z/jrb 13 If necessary, it is even possible to interpose a cleaning stage between each of the various apparatuses arranged in series, whereby any brownstone formed can be removed from the wool by, say, a sodium bisulphite solution. Of course, it is also possible to use any other reducing agent to rid the wool of brownstone.

After the reactions in Fig. 1 to 5, it is, of course, possible to treat the wool top according to well-known processes with a polyamide resin or by means of an enzyme to improve the non-felting feature of th'; wool material.

Naturally, the reaction scheme shown in Figures 1 to 5 can be changed, varied or modified in some way. After all, it is a matter of optimisation, whether one selects a higher concentration of potassium permanganate and sulphuric acid in the reagent solution while the time of the reaction is shortened, or whether one works with a less concentrated solution while the time of the reaction is increased accordingly. Also temperature control is actually a matter of optimisation. According to the invention, it is essential that the wool material is treated for a short time with a substantially aqueous, relatively highly acidic potassium permanganate solution, with the reagent solution preferaoly containing a wetting agent.

Of course, the reactors designed as examples and shown in Figures 1 to may be changed or modified in some way. For example, by appropriately configuring the walls of the apparatuses according to Figures 1 to 5, a round flow channel may be obtained. Also the inlet into or the Dutlet from the apparatuses according to Figures 1 to 5 can be modified in some way, as they concern conventional transport or infeeding and outfeeding techniques which are not elements of the present invention. Also the mixing and admixing of the reagent solution, as well as removal, the possible re-concentrating or adjustment of the concentration of the reagent solution are state-of-the-art and shall not be explained in detail in the present invention. It is likewise possible to make the described apparatuses according to the invention of any material, with transparent synthetic materials, polyacryl, polycarbonate or polyamide being preferred, of course with the material used exhibiting adequate resistance to the chemical agents corresponding to the reagent solution selected. But, of course, it is possible to make the apparatuses from stainless steel, aluminium, glass or other materials.

787z/jrb

Claims (18)

1. A process for the non-felting finishing of wool or wool fibres based on potassium permanganate in an acid medium, wherein the wool or wool fibres is, (are) treated for a short time in a highly acidic aqueous reagent solution of potassium permanganate, with the reagent solution spent during the treatment and/or removed by the wool or wool fibres treated being constantly replenished or replaced.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the aqueous reagent solution which is admixed to the wool or the wool fibres has a concentration of sulphuric acid in the solution in the range of 15 40 g concentrated industrial sulphuric acid (approximately 62%) per litre of the solution as well as a concentration of 0.5 5 g potassium permanganate per litre of the aqueous solution.

3. The process of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein prior to the treatment of the wool or the wool fibres, 1.5 to 4.5g of a poly-phosphonic acid per litre of the potassium permanganate solution are admixed to the highly acidic aqueous solution of potassium permanganate.

4. The process of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein, prior to the treatment of the wool or the wool fibres, pait of the aqueous solution of potassium permanganate having a concentration of 5g per litre of the solution is mixed with 4.6 parts of an aqueous solution of 35 g concentrated or industrial-grade sulphuric acid per litre of the solution.

5. The process of any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the treatment time of the wool or the wool fibres with the aqueous highly acidic potassium permanganate solution is 5 to 20 seconds.

6. A process of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the treatment time of the 'wool or the wool fibres with the aqueous highly acidic potassium permanganate solution is 5 to 10 seconds.

7. The process of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the non-felting finishing or the treatment of the wool or the wool fibres with the highly acidic aqueous potassium permanganate solution is carried out at a bath ratio in the range of 5 to 12 1 of the solution per kg wool or wool fibres.

8. The process of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the treatment is carried out at room temperature or a slightly raised temperature.

9. The process of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the short treatment with a highly acidic aqueous solution of potassium permanganate is carried out repeatedly and the wool or wool fibres is (are) cleaned after each treatment with a reducing agent to eliminate any brownstone formed. A process according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein after the non- felting finishing, the wool or the wool fibres are subjected tko an after-treatment with a Li, 1 synthetic resin or silicon elastomeres or treated enzymatically. 4_4) 11. A process according to claim 1, wherein: the wool or the wool fibres is (are) introduced with a reagent solution comprising a substantially highly acidic aqueous potassium permanganate solution into a substantially enclosed flow channel with inlet and outlet openings via an infeeding apparatus; the wool or wool fibres and the solution are passed or conveyed together through the channel; and the wool or woll fibres are separated and pulled off again through suitable means after passing through the outlet opening.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein the wool or wool fibers is in the form of wool tops.

13. The process of Claim 12, wherein the wool top and the reagent solution are passed through or pulled through a substantially enclosed channel or a duct, with the duct or the channel being formed by a substantially stationary, at least almost semi- circular, trough-like vessel, with a freely rotatable rotor mounted in the trough, the radius of which is smaller than the inner radius of the trough-like vessel and the width of which is almost equal to the inner width of the trough-like vessel so that a substantially enclosed channel or duct which is almost semi-circular in the lengthwise direction and which has a rectangular cross section, and wherein the freely rotatable rotor rotates substantially in synchronism with the conveying speed of the wool top while the wool top is passed or carried together with the reagent solution through the enclosed channel or the duct.

14. An apparatus for practising a process according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, for the substantially continuous non-felting finishing of wool or wool top conveyed through a reactor with a reagent solution, comprising: infeeding means for introducing the wool or wool top and applying the reagent solution; and downstream from the infeeding means, a substantially enclosed flow duct or flow channel with inlet and outlet openings for passing the wool or wool top to be treated together with the reagent solution. An apparatus for practising a process according to any one of claims 1 to 13, for the substantially continuous treatment of a material with a reagent solution conveyed by a reactor, comprising: infeeding means for introducing the material and applying the reagent solution; and downstream from the infeeding means, a longitudinally extended flow duct or flow channel with inlet and outlet openings arranged at substantially each end for passing the material to be treated together with the reagent solution, with the duct or channel being substantially enclosed on all sides over the entire length to enable a specific packing density to be set so that the reagent solution is conveyed through the flow duct or the flow channel as a consequence of conveying the material. [n:\libtt]00233:BGC 16

16. The apparatus of claim 14 or claim 15 wherein: the duct or channel is longitudinally extended with a substantially uniform cross section along the entire length of the duct or the channel, with the cross section of the duct or the channel being round, square or substantially rectangular; and an inlet vessel for introducing the material and applying the reagent solution precedes the duct or channel and, after the channel or duct, a collecting vessel for collecting or discharging the reagent solution as well as the outfeeding means for removing the material or for conveying the same to a further treatment stage are provided.

17. The apparatus of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the duct or channel is formed by a substantially stationary, at least almost semi-circular, trough-like vessel with a freely rotatable rotor mounted in the trough, the radius of which rotor is smaller than the inner radius of the trough-like vessel so that a substantially enclosed channel or duct which is almost semi-circular in the lengthwise direction and which has a rectangular cross section is formed between the peripheral surface of the rotor and the inner vessel bottom.

18. The apparatus of any one of Claims 14 to 17, wherein the duct or a channel is formed by at least two or more substantially stationary, at least almost semi- circular, trough-like vessels arranged in series, with one freely rotatable rotor mounted in each trough, the radius of which rotor is smaller than the inner radius of the respective trough-like vessel and the width of which is almost equal to the inner width a aof the respective trough-like vessel so that a substantially enclosed channel or duct, each being almost semi-circular in the lengthwise direction and each having a rectangular cross section, is formed between the peripheral surface of the rotor and the inner vessel bottom. a aa19. The apparatus of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the rotor is driven in the conveying direction of the wool being conveyed through the duct. An arrangement for the non-felting finishing of wool or wool fibres, comprising at least one apparatus according to any one of Claims 14 to 19, with a cleaning means being arranged behind the apparatus, or at least some of these apparatuses, or being interposed between two apparatuses in succession, for the cleaning of the treated wool, such as removing brownstone.

21. A process for the non-felting finishing of wool or wool fibers, said process being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 or

22. An apparatus for practising a process of non-felting finishing of wool or wool fibres, said apparatus being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs.1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 or /4 23. A process for the non-felting finishing of wool or wool fibers, said jf/9- process being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Example. [n:\libtt]00233:'8GC 17

24. An apparatus for practising a process of non-felting finishing of wool or wool fibres, said apparatus being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Example. Dated 16 September, 1994 Schoeller Hardturm AG Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON SI4 I 4 t [n:\libtt]00233:DGC