Australian Consulate-General, Guangzhou
Media Release PD39/07 Date:14 November 2007
Australian Scientists Develop New Quick Drying Wool
A research team in Australia has developed a process which can produce a high performance ‘quick-dry’ finish for wool, to allow it to compete with the quick-dry performances of synthetics and cottons in active sportswear markets.
Researchers with Australia’s major scientific industrial research organisation (CSIRO) funded by Australian Wool Innovation Ltd, have tackled this problem by investigating treatments for reducing the amount of water held in wool materials after washing.
In a major breakthrough for the wool industry and market competition, the scientists have produced the QuickDry Merino (QDM) technology which has being adopted by European, Australian and American manufacturers and retailers.
Traditionally, wool garments had a reputation for being comparatively slow drying, causing them to lose their marketability against their synthetic competitors. A new partnership between Australian Company - Wool Innovation Ltd and CSIRO has countered this shortcoming with its QuickDry Merino technology whereby treated woollen garments can dry in approximately one third the time required for untreated garments. The process is also ideal for the hand wash and machine washable wool knitwear market.
The development of quick-dry treatments for knitted merino wool garments, using the latest stain blocking agents, is a breakthrough in the Australian Government’s Merino Wool Innovation Project – a development which adds to the perception that wool can perform as a modern, high-performance textile in the most critical active sportswear markets.
Treated woollen garments repel water, but, at the same time, the natural ‘breathability’ of wool, based on its ability to absorb moisture inside the fibre, is unimpaired. It adds to the active, young image of wool created by SportWool™ some years ago, and opens new markets and export opportunities for Australian wool.
Immediate beneficiaries of the new Australian based technology are manufacturers and retailers who will take the products to the market place. The longer-term beneficiaries will be the superfine woolgrowers of Australia who will find new markets for their fibre in advanced, next to skin, performance garments.
There are also additional environmental benefits as a 25 per cent saving in drying energy can be realised for machine-wash and easy-care wool garments.
For further information, please contact Ms Willow Li, Research Assistant (Tel: 020 3814 0186, E-mail: [email protected] )