Sample Name:

Milk fabric

Sample Quantity:

30*30cm

Sample description

red

Environmental condition:

Temperature:20 ± 2 degr C

Humidity :65 ± 3% RH

Ref. Documents For the test

GB/T 8427-1998 GB/T 4802.3-1997 GB/T 3920-1997
GB/T 3921-1997 GB/T 3922-1995FZ/T 01057-1999

Test conclusion

Fiber content

Milk60%/wool40%

Anti-light color fastness

+4

 Anti-friction

3

3

Anti-washing

4-5

Anti-sweat (alkali)

4-5

Anti-sweat (acid)

4-5

The milk protein fiber moistens skin and it is healthy and bacteriostatic - it is the perfect material to produce underwear. The important ingredients of milk protein fiber are milk casein proteins, which can nourish and lubricate the skin. The milk protein contains the natural humectant factor, which can capture moisture and this will maintain the skin’s moisture - it makes the skin tender and smooth and reduce wrinkles – peoples’ dream of taking milk baths can be realized.

• T-Shirts
• Underwear
• Ladies outerwear
• Sportswear
• Sweaters

Milk protein fiber reduced the cost of cashmere products. At present, the whole industrial process from fiber spinning, weaving, printing and dyeing to ready-made garments has been combined, milk yarn with different specifications has been developed, and milk underwear, milk cashmere sweaters, T-shirts and so on have already appeared on the market...

• fibers
• tow/tops
• spun yarns

Main process of milk protein fiber

To make milk protein fiber, milk is first dewatered and skimmed, then by means of new bio-engineering technique, the protein spinning fluid suitable for a wet spinning process is manufactured, then finally the new high-grade textile fiber is made. It combines the advantages of natural fiber and synthetic fiber - the protein fiber is a kind of fresh fiber with healthy function.

The milk protein fiber contains eighteen amino-acids, which is beneficial to human’s health and has the functions of nourishing and taking care of skin.

 Kinds and content of amino-acid in milk protein fiber

 Tested by SGS-CSTC Standards Technical Services Co. Ltd Shanghai Branch , the content of amino acid is 30.34%.

Technical infos on how to work milk fibers can be obtained from us.

The wet spinning technology, a unique spinning solvent is used, micro- zinc ions are is embedded in the fiber, after drying and after treatment, zinc oxide is produced, therefore it is bacteriostatic and durable.

Tested by China National Textiles Quality Supervision Testing Center, the bacterial value of golden yellow staphylococcus is greater than 99.9986, the bacterial value of colon bacillus is greater than 99.9993 and the bacterial value of white Beads germ is greater than 99.9855.

Property comparison between milk protein fiber and other textile fiber

* The intensity of fiber breakage and mould are moderate, it is great to extend, the spinning and weaving performance is good.

Some historic background information

Casein [milk] protein Casein dates back many centuries when it was used as a binder for paints -- paint with casein applied to 14th and 15th century churches still appears bright and unfaded. Proteins are obtained from skim milk, evaporated milk and condensed milk. There are about three pounds of casein in every 100 pounds of milk. When cut to staple-length fiber casein has many properties of wool. Fibers are white, fluffy, springy and have a pleasant odor. When blended with other fibers casein added a soft draping quality and resiliency to fabrics. Fiber was blended with wool for creating felt and with spun rayon, wool, mohair and cotton for attractive woven and knitted fabrics in a variety of weaves, textures and prints. Even though casein fiber lacks certain desirable qualities of wool it was a way to replace wool at a lower cost. When mixed with rayon and wool, casein helped in the conservation effort during WWII as a wool substitute. Casein fibers cannot be distinguished from wool fibers by chemical or burning tests, only by microscope. Because chemical composition is so similar, casein burns like wool with odor of burning hair, has no surface scales like wool but is smooth and round when viewed under a microscope, is damaged readily by alkalis and mildews easily. Though caseins can be laundered with care the same as wool, they loose strength when wet and must be handled gently. They cannot be kept damp for any length of time due to quick mildewing. Three successful brand names were Aralac in America and Lanital and Merinova in Italy.	Ground casein is poured into trap door, treated with chemicals and heated in huge vats to form a solution which is forced through spinnerets; washed, dried, cut into staples and baled to yarn-making plants for spinning and blending. - America's Fabrics   Textured drapery made from soft casein yarns combined with other fibers. - America's Fabrics Montgomery Ward's S/S 1942 catalog featured classic felt styles of 94% new wool and 6% casein fiber. Colors choices were black, flag red, navy, dusty rose, dusty blue and beige. $2.48 and $3.98 respectively.
Lanital was the first successful protein fiber from milk casein. Antonio Feretti was granted a patent for this fiber from the Italian government in 1935. It was named Lanital [lana = wool +ital = Italy], and manufactured by Snia Viscosa which called the fabric a fancy rayon. It lasted into the early 40s and superceded by Merinova which was used to blend with rabbit hair in the production of felts. Merinova was discontinued in the late 1960s. Fibers of both fabrics were very similar to wool and could be dyed by the same processes, and like wool they were easily damaged by alkalis. Both had a resilient wooly feel but were not as strong and firm nor as elastic as wool. Moths would not attack and shrinkage was not as much as wool but fibers mildewed easily when damp, an inherent characteristic of protein fibers as noted earlier.	Cross sectional view of Lanital under a microscope. - Kansas State Ag Bulletin 300
Aralac   A patent was granted in 1937 to the United States Department of Agriculture for making a casein fiber by a somewhat different method than Lanital. Aralac was developed by the American Research Associates, a scientific research division of the National Dairy Products Corp. A useable fiber was developed and ready for the market in 1940, just in time to serve as a wool substitute during WWII. Its name was derived from ARA = American Research Associates + lac = Latin for milk. Aralac was blended with rabbit fur in making felt hats and with wool, mohair, rayon and cotton in varying proportions for fabrics and garments. Although clothing in this fiber was available as late as 1947, the impact of man-made fibers following the war caused the demise of this fiber in 1948 as it could not compete with the low price of new synthetics. Plus when damp, this fabric smelled like sour milk, causing many consumer complaints, a quite common, familiar ailment within the casein family.
R-53 appeared around 1941; R for research and 53 indicating it was the 53rd fiber tested in a search for a fiber which was suitable to manufacture felt hats. This fiber was finer than Aralac and was used to blend with rabbit fur in making felt for hats. Little information is available. It was listed by this name as late as 1953 but seems to have disappeared. Possibly the fiber might have been renamed or absorbed by Merinova or failed to survive as a competitor.
Caslen was a trademark of Plastic Products, a division of Rubberset. It was developed as a curled and resilient replacement for horsehair in upholstery. It appeared on the market in the late 1940s and according to glossary listings, was off market by the early 60s. Another brand from Great Britain was Fibrolane, discontinued in 1965.

Harvest