Wool surely is the "wonder fiber!" Today, there are many fibers, but as yet, science has been unable to produce another fiber having all of the properties of wool.
Wool is special because it is:
• an excellent insulator
• absorbs moisture without feeling wet
• Resilient - reducing Pressure
• Reduces Friction or Shear
• Flame resistant
• Non-allergenic
• Wicks moisture
Wool is a natural insulator , trapping air within and between its fibers. Wool insulation is enhanced by the crimp or waviness of the wool fiber. Crimp ensures the fibers stand apart from each other, ensuring still air is trapped between them. This layer of trapped air is an excellent insulator- still air being one of the best insulators found in Nature. Wool used in footwear will keep feet warm when it is cold and near body temperature when it is hot. Trapped still air is most pronounced in sheepskin and wool-pile, making them excellent insulators against heat loss or heat gain. Sitting or lying on sheepskin or wool-pile insulates the user from the underlying surface. This means that the body is kept at an even temperature and the user feels more comfortable.
Wool absorbs moisture , keeping your skin dry. In cold weather, even a little moisture on the skin will chill the skin; quickly reducing body temperature. In fact, the fibers can absorb up to 34% of its weight in moisture vapor without feeling wet — ten times as much as any synthetic fiber. The porous structure also explains why wool is such a good thermal insulator, not to mention the mesh of the fibers, which creates millions of air pockets that further help to regulate temperature and humidity.
Wool is resilient, spreading body pressure and reducing pressure points . Each fiber acts like a small spring. Wool is also a naturally strong fiber. It can bend back on itself 20,000 times without breaking. Compare this to cotton at 3,200 times, silk at 1,800, and rayon at only 75 times. Maximum pressure reduction has been found when the pile is clipped to 30mm, is homogeneous and of uniform length and density.
The Secret of Wool
The secret of wool lies in the structure of its fibers, which absorb moisture, insulate against heat and cold, resist flame, and maintain their resilience. Unlike cotton, linen, silk or polyester, wool fibers are composed of a central protein core that is covered with tiny scales, making them look like pine cones. See below.
Although the scaly surface tends to repel liquids, the fiber core is highly absorbent, taking in as much as 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling wet. Synthetics, in contrast, hold as little as 2%. By drawing moisture away from the skin, wool prevents clamminess in summer and helps to hold in heat during winter.
These overlapping scale edges all point in the same direction. Scales of adjacent fibers may interlock, causing felting and shrinkage. Such interlocking is irreversible. This means that wool that has shrunk or felted cannot be retrieved. When wool is washed, the scales act like a ratchet, causing fibers to move against one another. The scales also act as minute barbs, locking adjacent oppositely orientated fibers together. Fiber movement causes this locking action
Wool is fire resistant . Wool is naturally safe and does not have to be treated to become inflammable. While it can catch alight, it will not flare up nor support a flame. Once a flame is removed, a cold ash is left. This can be brushed away immediately. Wool does not melt when burned, and so cannot stick to the skin and cause serious burns. Because of these properties, wool fire blankets are effective in smothering a flame. Wool fibers contain about 15% moisture in every fiber allowing them to resist flame without any additional chemical treatment. The wool will just char and self extinguish; giving off little heat.
Wool is non-allergenic . There is no scientific evidence that people have an allergy to wool. What is often perceived as an allergy is the prickling caused by coarse wool.
Wool wicks moisture: The porosity of the cells in the outer layers of wool fiber allows them to quickly and efficiently wick and evaporate moisture. Moisture wicked away from the skin keeps the skin dry and comfortable and helps to prevent skin breakdown in people susceptible to pressure sores.