A Nonaqueous Method for Sizing Wool Yarns: Preliminary Work

Abstract

Preliminary work has shown the feasibility of a novel method of sizing wool yarns. The method is a nonaqueous, package-to-package technique in which a polymer size is applied to a yarn running through an air fluidized bed of powdered polymer, followed by in situ melting and air cooling. Some water soluble polymers that have properties suitable for application by this method have been investigated. Coated yarns have been produced with polymer add-on levels of 6% and 24% at treatment speeds of 70 and 40 meters/minute, respectively. Yarns treated with a water soluble polyester based polymer showed reduced hairiness and reduced incidence of fabric stitching faults in weaving trials.