Modification of Wool by the Application of Linear Synthetic Polyamides

Ethanolic potassium hydroxide solutions in concentrations from 0.1% to 5.0% have been used to pretreat wool effectively for the application of N-alkoxymethyl polyamides to prevent felting shrinkage. The alcoholic alkali may be used purely as a pretreatment, or the alkali can be incorporated in the alcoholic resin solution. Even when the alkali pretreatment does not in itself reduce the felting shrinkage, effective shrinkproofing is obtained with less than 1% resin based on the weight of wool.