Merino wool does not smell, does not itch, cools when it is hot, warms when it is cold, is hypoallergenic, antibacterial… these are some of the most known properties of merino wool. But very few know all about the secrets of this wonderful fibre. Its complex chemical structure is what allows it to have so many inherent benefits.
We invite you on a fascinating journey to find out in depth how its structure works.
INSIDE THE WOOL
.-Epicuticula-. It is one of the outermost layers of the fibre and is responsible for repelling liquids and resisting abrasion, which gives wool its great resistance to stains and water, making it easy to clean.
.-Célula-. (orthocortex and paracortex). The arrangement of these cells causes the “undulation” of the wool fibre which traps the air (providing insulation), thus keeping the heat inside and also acting as a sound insulator (bio-construction).
.-Matriz-. The matrix consists of proteins with a high sulphur content. This is how the wool fibre absorbs moisture (up to 30%) keeping the body dry; it is able to resist fire and avoid the static effect (which occurs in very dry environments). This gives wool products the ability to remain clean and safe as well as absorbing odours.
Why doesn’t wool smell bad?
Sweat itself does not smell. When the bacteria that live in our body start to break down the sweat (water, ammonia, salts, sugar and urea) it produces the unpleasant odour we are all familiar with.
The fibre of wool is scaly, so bacteria can hardly embed themselves, unlike synthetic fibres which are smooth. Sheep’s wool also purifies and regenerates the air by absorbing a large amount of pollutants.
.-Hélice alfa-. They give wool its flexibility, elasticity and strength, which makes it more durable and wrinkle-resistant. The fibre of merino wool is wavy and finer than a human hair, which measures about 30 micrometres compared to wool, which measures between 16 and 24 micrometres. Despite being so fine, merino wool is able to be bent more than 20,000 times without breaking and is able to stretch up to 70% of its natural length and then return to its original shape.
Wool is not only one of the oldest materials in existence; it is also one of the most functional. Haven’t you fallen in love with wool yet? Well, read on, there’s more…
The best of all is that all its properties are 100% natural; unlike other fibres that require chemical treatments to obtain all these benefits; so wool is free of toxins that can affect your health.
In our case; to make our merino wool duvets that we use as filling, we use pure high quality virgin wool from the merino sheep without any kind of chemical treatment. In this context, the term “pure new wool” means that the material is made from 100% new (not recycled) wool that comes from live animals.
Wool is the most versatile fibre in the world; and like all other natural fibres 100% biodegradable. There are many reasons for wool to make a place in your life in its many forms and versions, we are sure you will fall in love with it.
Anatomy of wool fibre
Merino wool does not smell, does not itch, cools when it is hot, warms when it is cold, is hypoallergenic, antibacterial… these are some of the most known properties of merino wool. But very few know all about the secrets of this wonderful fibre. Its complex chemical structure is what allows it to have so many inherent benefits.
We invite you on a fascinating journey to find out in depth how its structure works.
INSIDE THE WOOL
.-Epicuticula-.
It is one of the outermost layers of the fibre and is responsible for repelling liquids and resisting abrasion, which gives wool its great resistance to stains and water, making it easy to clean.
.-Célula-. (orthocortex and paracortex).
The arrangement of these cells causes the “undulation” of the wool fibre which traps the air (providing insulation), thus keeping the heat inside and also acting as a sound insulator (bio-construction).
.-Matriz-.
The matrix consists of proteins with a high sulphur content. This is how the wool fibre absorbs moisture (up to 30%) keeping the body dry; it is able to resist fire and avoid the static effect (which occurs in very dry environments). This gives wool products the ability to remain clean and safe as well as absorbing odours.
Why doesn’t wool smell bad?
Sweat itself does not smell. When the bacteria that live in our body start to break down the sweat (water, ammonia, salts, sugar and urea) it produces the unpleasant odour we are all familiar with.
The fibre of wool is scaly, so bacteria can hardly embed themselves, unlike synthetic fibres which are smooth. Sheep’s wool also purifies and regenerates the air by absorbing a large amount of pollutants.
.-Hélice alfa-.
They give wool its flexibility, elasticity and strength, which makes it more durable and wrinkle-resistant. The fibre of merino wool is wavy and finer than a human hair, which measures about 30 micrometres compared to wool, which measures between 16 and 24 micrometres.
Despite being so fine, merino wool is able to be bent more than 20,000 times without breaking and is able to stretch up to 70% of its natural length and then return to its original shape.
Wool is not only one of the oldest materials in existence; it is also one of the most functional. Haven’t you fallen in love with wool yet? Well, read on, there’s more…
The best of all is that all its properties are 100% natural; unlike other fibres that require chemical treatments to obtain all these benefits; so wool is free of toxins that can affect your health.
In our case; to make our merino wool duvets that we use as filling, we use pure high quality virgin wool from the merino sheep without any kind of chemical treatment. In this context, the term “pure new wool” means that the material is made from 100% new (not recycled) wool that comes from live animals.
Wool is the most versatile fibre in the world; and like all other natural fibres 100% biodegradable. There are many reasons for wool to make a place in your life in its many forms and versions, we are sure you will fall in love with it.
Source:
www.woolmark.com
www.en.giesswein.com
www.sciencelearn.org.nz