Kenneth Winterbottom

Shrinkproofing Wool by Means of Polythiols

Several types of polythiol resin were applied to wool fabric from organic solvent or aqueous emulsion and cured at room temperature to give shrink resistance. The most successful polythiols were those containing polyether structures and thiol functionality greater than two. Reaction of one of these polythiols with oxygen gas was demonstrated and is believed to be the means whereby the polythiols cure on the wool surface, forming disulfide crosslinks. Organic and inorganic bases, organic peroxides and hydroperoxides, and heavy metal compounds were effective catalysts. The influence of structural differences in the polythiols on the shrink resistance is discussed.