Wool as a Textile Fibre

Wool lacks the mechanical strength of silk, due to its cellular nature and lesser degree of crystallinity. However, these factors also give it a greater extensibility 

Wool fibres may be subjected to fullering - the fibres are treated with an appropriate agent (traditionally mercury compounds were used), which causes the individual scales on the fibre to stand proud of the surface, causing adjacent fibres to become entangled, and increasing the bulk of the material. The process can be employed to make non-woven woollen textiles (i.e. felt), but is also employed to modify the properties of fibres used for yarns and fabrics, and can give a durability to wool fabrics that is not found in the individual fibres. 

Wool and hair fibres can be taken from a wide range of animal species such as sheep, goats, camels, yak, musk ox, llamas and related species, and fur animals (rabbits, foxes, beavers and the like), among others. The properties of these fibres are dictated by the source, and these variations can influence length, diameter and fineness, mechanical characteristics and durability, colour and dyeability. 

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