Washable wool stretch fabrics with dimensional stability

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to washable wool stretch or elastic textile articles which are dimensionally stable. Preferably, the articles are characterized in that they have not been subjected to temperatures greater than 1600 C. The disclosure is also directed to a method to make dimensionally stable wool stretch articles characterized by the absence of a traditional heat-setting step.

1 . A washable wool article comprising elastic fiber comprising cross linked polyolefin polymers, characterized in that such article has a dimensional stability after washing and/or steam pressing within ±3 percent. 
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the elastic fibers comprise a cross linked homogeneously branched ethylene polymer. 
   
   
       3 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the article has not been subjected to temperatures greater than 160° C. 
   
   
       4 . The wool article of  claim 1  which has a dimensional stability after washing and/or steam pressing of ±1.5 percent. 
   
   
       5 . The washable wool article of  claim 1  wherein the article comprises 2-20 percent by weight elastic fiber. 
   
   
       6 . The washable wool article of  claim 1  wherein the article comprises at least 65 percent wool. 
   
   
       7 . The washable wool article of  claim 1  further comprising additional non-elastic natural or synthetic fibers. 
   
   
       8 . A method of producing a dimensionally stable washable wool stretch article comprising fiber made from an elastic material, said method characterized in that the temperature during article finishing does not exceed 160° C. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 10  further characterized in that the process does not include the use of a tenter frame. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 10  further characterized in that the article finishing includes a heat setting step. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  comprising the step of selecting one or more cross linked polyolefin polymers as the elastic material. 
   
   
       12 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the article additionally comprises polyester or nylon fibers. 
   
   
       13 . The article of  claim 4  wherein the fiber made from crosslinked homogeneously branched ethylene polymer comprises 2 percent to 10 percent by weight of the article. 
   
   
       14 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the article comprises fiber made from polypropylene. 
   
   
       15 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the article is in the form of a garment. 
   
   
       16 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the article is in the form of a linen. 
   
   
       17 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the article is in the form of finished fabric. 
   
   
       18 . A washable wool article comprising elastic fiber and at least 65 percent by weight wool, characterized in that such article has a dimensional stability after washing and/or steam pressing within ±3 percent. 
   
   
       19 . The article of  claim 18  where the wool comprises from 70 to 96 percent by weight wool.