Improvements in and Relating to Wool Treatment

Abstract

A method of treating a wool material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the wool material with a cationic surfactant; and (b) contacting the wool material with a nucleophile.

1 . A method of treating a wool material, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) contacting the wool material with a cationic surfactant; and   (b) contacting the wool material with a nucleophile.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed simultaneously. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the nucleophile in step (b) is non-reducing. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the nucleophile is selected from hydrogen peroxide and its derivatives, the perhydroxy anion, the superoxide anion, a per-acid, a polyper-acid, an alkali metal or ammonium hydroxide, the hydroxyl anion, hydroxylamine, an alkanolamine, an alcoholate, an amine, a phenol, thiocyanate or any mixture thereof. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the total treatment time for steps (a) and (b) is less than 45 seconds. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the wool material is contacted with the cationic surfactant of step (a) for between 1 and 120 seconds and with the nucleophile of step (b) for between 1 and 120 seconds. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises a step (c) of contacting the wool material with an acid having a pH of no more than substantially 6. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises a step (d) of contacting the wool material with an agent or agent(s) capable of promoting additional anionic character to the surface of the wool material. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the agent or agent(s) capable of promoting additional anionic character to the surface of the wool material comprises an oxidising agent. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the oxidising agent comprises potassium peroxomonosulphate. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein step (d) further comprises contacting the wool material with a nucleophile. 
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the nucleophile comprises sodium sulphite or is selected from hydrogen peroxide and its derivatives, the perhydroxy anion, the superoxide anion, a per-acid, a polyper-acid, an alkali metal or ammonium hydroxide, the hydroxyl anion, hydroxylamine, an alkanolamine, an alcoholate, an amine, a phenol, thiocyanate, cyanate or any mixture thereof. 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises a step (e), of contacting the wool material with an alkali and/or applying a mechanical force. 
   
   
       15 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 1  which comprises a continuous process. 
   
   
       23 . A method of treatment of a wool material comprising the steps of:
 (i) performing a pre-treatment method comprising treating the wool material according to the method of  claim 1 ; and   (ii) contacting the wool with one or more agents capable of forming an interaction with the treated wool.   
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the method comprises a method of shrink-resistance treatment of a wool material. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein step (ii) comprises contacting the wool with a polyamide polymer. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the agent of step (ii) is selected from a dye, a printing ink, a softening agent, a curing agent, a flattening agent, a flame retardant an anti-creasing agent and an agent promoting a permanent crease. 
   
   
       27 . A wool material treated according to the method of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       28 . A wool material according to  claim 25  wherein the wool material is selected from wool yarn, wool top, wool fabric, loose wool, cashmere, fibres from an animal other than a sheep, a garment or a woven fabric containing wool or fibres from an animal other than a sheep.