Shape Memory Finishing of Wool Fabrics and Garments

Abstract

Shape memory finishing is suitable to wool knitted and woven fabric. The chemical is water soluble and environment friendly. The shape memory treated wool knitted fabric and garments achieve good dimensional stability, pill resistance, pattern design, crease retention, wrinkle recovery and bagging recovery effects. The finishing process is simple, saving water and can be done using the normal common washing machine. Shape memory chemical is also used on cashmere finishing increasing the piling rates.

A novel approach for developing smart cotton fabric with dynamic breathability and easy care features

“…There are also some end uses such as pleating of a garment part (skirt, trouser etc. ), where crease retention, namely, the ability of a fabric to maintain folded appearance, is required [5].…”

Enhancing Wool Fabric Easy Care Properties by Shape Memory Polyurethane Finishing

“…Hence, bagging has been widely researched using theoretical and experimental studies to investigate the effects of fabric and finishing parameters. 3–5 As well as bagging recovery, anti-felting is also an important parameters for easy-care performance of wool. The special scale structure of the cuticle layer in wool can entail felting shrinkage of wool fabrics during laundry, with temperature and mechanical action resulting in the decrease of air permeability and softness.…”

“…2,3 Commercial finishing methods were developed for easy-care performance, especially for bagging, felting and wrinkling, but these processes have some disadvantages such as pollution, high cost, strength loss, color changes, and deterioration in fabric hand. 5 The EXP 4.0 process of Schoeller for anti-felting is claimed to prevent hazardous chemical usage and deterioration in exceptional wool properties by applying an ecological polymer as micro patches. 7 An alternative method, including smart polymers such as shape memory polymers (SMPs), may be applied on the fabric as a finishing treatment to obtain a novel shape memory effect effecting bagging recovery, dimensional stability, and pattern keeping upon laundering, steaming, and the hot wind tumble drying process.…”

“…7 An alternative method, including smart polymers such as shape memory polymers (SMPs), may be applied on the fabric as a finishing treatment to obtain a novel shape memory effect effecting bagging recovery, dimensional stability, and pattern keeping upon laundering, steaming, and the hot wind tumble drying process. 5,6 Polyurethane (PU)-based coating agents have also been used to enhance anti-felting behavior. 6–10…”