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Quick-dryability is an important attribute for fabrics used in sports apparel. There is no specific standard test method available to measure the actual quick-dryability of a fabric. Some of the test methods cited in the literature use a method where a droplet of water is placed on a fabric sample and the time taken for the water to evaporate is measured. These methods are not practical as the quick dryability depends solely on the wicking property of that fabric. For example, a hydrophilic polyester fabric, when fully soaked with water, may bind more water molecules compared to the untreated polyester fabric (hydrophobic) resulting in an increase in drying time. Using current test methods, it may show better quick-dryability compared to the untreated polyester fabric, although it may actually take longer to dry than the untreated polyester. In the work presented here, we developed a new test method based on the rate of evaporation of water from a fully soaked fabric sample at body temperature (37°C) and at 50% relative humidity. In this method, a certain size of fabric sample is placed in a water solution containing 0.25 g/l wetting agent and then the sample is hydro-extracted at 2000 rpm for 2 minutes. The quick dryability measurement was repeated ten times and the standard deviation of the quick-drying results were within an acceptable range. We measured the quick dryability of several cotton, wool and nylon fabrics using this new method.Because of high moisture regain, wool fabrics usually dry quite slowly. However, it was found that some of the commercially available so-called quick-drying polyester fabrics performed quite badly compared to wool fabric.

The first investigation of the use of biosurfactants for the scouring of raw wool is reported. A saponin, and a recently developed surface active oat extract, were evaluated at the laboratory scale using a first-to-bereported benchtop scouring system with simulated flowback. The levels of contaminants remaining on the wool after bioscouring, along with the wool colour, were compared with those of wool that had been laboratory-scoured with a surfactant used in the commercial scouring of raw wool, namely a synthetic nine molar poly(oxyethylene)nonylphenyl (NPEO). Both biosurfactants can be extracted from land-based renewable crops. The saponin proved to be effective, producing low levels of residual contaminants on the wool, and colours that were not statistically different to those of wool scoured with NPEO. The oat extract was considerably less effective than the saponin, both in terms of colour and residual contaminant level. This study demonstrated the significant potential of biosurfactants in the scouring of the global greasy wool clip, which now comprises two billion kg per annum.

The seven azole compounds, econazole nitrate, sulconazole nitrate, miconazole nitrate, thiabendazole, epoxiconazole, propiconazole, and tebuconazole, were applied to wool fabrics at 3.0% on mass of wool and the protection from wool-digesting Tineola bisselliella (common clothes moth) larvae was assessed in bioassays. Econazole nitrate gave the greatest protection according to Wools of New Zealand Test Method 25, easily passing the bioassay. Other good results with sulconazole and epoxiconazole led to further bioassays being performed with Australian carpet beetle larvae Anthrenocerus australis. Propiconazole provided the most effective protection of wool from this species, with a concentration of approximately 0.4% on mass of wool predicted to give adequate insect resistance. A combination of propiconazole and isoniazid was trialed against Anthrenocerus australis, without any synergistic effect. The antiprotozoal compound pentamidine isethionate had no measurable effect on Anthrenocerus australis larvae, but provided a moderate anti-feeding effect on Tineola bisselliella. Antimicrobial compounds could affect the digestive process of wool-digesting insects either directly or by their effects on any gut flora and/or fauna. Azoles are antifungal compounds, and are likely to disrupt the insect utilisation of cholesterol by inhibiting the cytochrome P450 enzymes. Propiconazole was trialed as a dyebath-applied insect-proofing agent on piece-dyed carpet, showing inefficient uptake onto wool, but good fastness to carpet shampooing and light exposure.