Application of the method of the experimental design to the study of a processing of unshrinkableness of wool fibers

The objective of this study was to optimize the character of the unshrinkableness of wool fibers. A study of the processing of fibers of wool by an oxidative processing by performic acid was carried out by a complete factorial design to determine the most influential parameters of this study and then to optimize this process by the method of simplex. In parallel, a new ozone treatment was applied and a central composite design adapted to this protocol made it possible to identify the most influential parameters. This last type of processing has the advantage of being less polluting. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 535–547, 2003