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Processing Innovations

Mercerised Merino

Superior hand feel and drape with enhanced comfort


The mercerisation process for Merino wool is a process normally applied to wool top or scoured loose wool, creating a ‘cashmere-like’ feel and a ‘silk-like’ appearance, changing the perceived hand feel of the fibre.

Superior hand-feel
Superior hand-feel

Improved hand-feel for worsted-spun and woollen-spun knitwear.

Comfort
Comfort

Improved comfort especially in next-to-skin products. 

Improved drape
Improved drape

Improved drape and fluidity. 

Mercerised Merino

The mercerisation of wool involves the removal of the scale structure from the surface of the wool fibre which creates a smoother fibre surface, the effect of which is to increase the sheen. The second part of the process involves the application of a very fine layer of silicone polymer which is grafted permanently onto the fibres’ surface.

The application of the silicone polymer brings about significant improvement in the hand feel. Although as a result of the treatment, the actual diameter (micron) of the fibre does not change, the perceived improvement in hand feel is the equivalent of using wool 2 - 3 microns finer.

Contact the Woolmark Technical Team for more information.