Washable Wool Products for Individual Protection

The increase in burn injuries suffered by US Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan has made flame resistant combat clothing of great importance to improving individual Soldier protection. Wool is a naturally flame resistant fiber, but its tendency to irreversibly shrink when washed and dried has limited its use in combat clothing. Sheep Venture Company (SVC) proposes to research and develop a viable domestic washable wool treatment or process that can reliably prevent wool from shrinking when washed without affecting its other properties including fire resistance. SVC’s innovative approach will lead at the end of Phase I to at least one recommended treatment or process for further work in Phase II, and to a proposed design for a manufacturing line for commercial application of the recommended treatment or process. SVC will also establish key performance standards for washable wool at the top (prepared for spinning) and yarn stage, whereas standards are only available at present for finished knitted and woven fabrics. These new standards will mean that new processes and treatments can be evaluated at the top and yarn stage, reducing development time and costs, and will be of great benefit as new washable wool products are developed in Phase II.