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 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of treatment of a wool material comprising the steps of:
 (i) performing a pre-treatment method comprising treating the wool material with a composition comprising a cationic surfactant and a non-reducing nucleophile; and   (ii) contacting the wool with one or more agents capable of forming an interaction with the treated wool selected from a dye and a printing ink.   
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22  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. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein the total treatment time for step (i) is less than 45 seconds. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 22  which further comprises a step between step (i) and step (ii) of contacting the wool material with an acid having a pH of no more than substantially 6. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 22  which further comprises a step between step (i) and step (ii) of contacting the wool material with an agent or agent(s) capable of promoting additional anionic character to the surface of the wool material. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the agent or agent(s) capable of promoting additional anionic character to the surface of the wool material comprises an oxidising agent. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein the oxidising agent comprises potassium peroxomonosulphate. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the step of contacting the wool material with an agent or agent(s) capable of promoting additional anionic character to the surface of the wool material further comprises contacting the wool material with a nucleophile. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29  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. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 22  which further comprises a step between step (i) and step (ii), of contacting the wool material with an alkali and/or applying a mechanical force. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein step (i) comprises a continuous process. 
     
     
         33 . A wool material treated according to the method of  claim 22 . 
     
     
         34 . A wool material according to  claim 33  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.