An Appraisal of Shrink-Resistant Treatments for Wool

A review is presented of the mechanisms by which wool shrinks, and of the several classes of treatment available for making shrink-resistant wool. Some of the virtues and deficiencies of the better known classes of shrink-resistant processes are listed. The competitive position of shrink-resistant wool is examined in a number of end-use items. It is concluded that a number of low cost, adequate shrink-resistant processes are cur rently available, and that wool requires shrink resistance in order to compete with man- made fibers in end uses requiring ease-of-care.