GB542446A - Improvements relating to the treatment of woollen or worsted fabrics - Google Patents

Abstract

542,446. Treating textile fabrics. WRIGLEY, J. H., MELVILLE, A., and KELLETT, S. July 8, 1940, No. 11403. Drawings to Specification. [Class 15 (i)] [Also in Group VIII] Woollen or worsted fabric is first shrunk in length mechanically at least to the extent at which it will become longer if moistened while unconstrained, and thereafter while constrained to maintain the mechanical shrinkage is set by a plasticizing treatment involving side chain breakdown followed by linkage rebuilding. The plasticizing treatment is effected by subjecting the fabric to the action of steam, and thereafter cooling it. The mechanical shrinking may be carried out in apparatus as described in Specification 529,579, [Group VIII], and on leaving the shrinking apparatus, the fabric is wound on a roller with a carrier fabric that is under tension to retain the treated fabric in its shrunk form, and the composite roll is subjected to tbe plasticizing and de-plasticizing operations. The roller may be perforated so that when the roll is placed upon a carriage within a steam chamber, the steam passes through the composite fabric and escapes from the inside of the roller. To protect the fabric from condensate, closely woven fabric is placed upon the roller and the complete roll is wrapped in a similar fabric wrapper. After the plasticizing treatment, the fabric may be treated so that it acquires potential relaxation shrinkage and is then treated by the method claimed in Specification 542,169, [Group VIII]. Specification 359,759, [Group VIII], also is referred to.