A STUDY ON CASEIN FIBER

December 2010-2011

1. INTRODUCTION
   

   
    
   The technology has benefited us in the way by providing us the alternative to extract milk's advantage without actually drinking it. We can wear milk in the form of milk fabrics and it itself makes us feel better. Milk protein fabric is made out of skimmed milk. Main component of this fiber are casein proteins, drawn from the cow's milk. This fibre contains fifteen types of amino acid extracts that helps in the nourishment of the skin and makes it healthier. Milk protein fabric is a blend of nature, science and technology that has benefits of natural as well as synthetic fiber. It has a glossy appearance as of Mulberry silk⁽¹⁾.
   
   

A new generation of innovative fiber and a kind of synthetic fiber made of milk casein fiber through bioengineering method with biological health care function and natural & long-lasting antibacterial effect, which has got valid certification for international ecological textile certification of Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Authentication approved it in April 2004 and has been classified into grade A project of high-new technology transformation ⁽²⁾. It is most comfortable, excellent water transportation and air-permeability. It is also more healthy, light, soft and colorful. It's being resistant to fungus, insects and aging. It contains natural anti-bacterial elements and has a pH similar to that of human skin. It biodegrades and is renewable as well⁽³⁾.
It creates light weaves with a lovely silky look that allows the skin to breathe and humidity to be absorbed.
. There are about three pounds of casein in every 100 pounds of milk.

It can either be naturally spun alone or blended with cashmere, silk, spun-silk, cotton, wool, ramie and other fibers to make fabrics with the features of milk protein fibers. The fabric helps in keeping away allergies and wrinkles. Milk protein fiber is healthy for skin and with bright colors due to good dye ability. It is bloated and fragile in nature with restrained moulds which makes it soft and subtle .It helps to absorb moisture since it is hygroscopic and has vertical fibers with regular conduits providing ample space for the moisture to pass from fiber to fiber. It can also be used to create top-grade intimate garments, shirts, T shirts, loungewear and many more to satisfy people's pursuit of comfortable, healthy, superior and fashionable garments. It is an environment friendly product. This fiber is regarded as a naturally healthy fiber by association of milk ⁽⁴⁾.

1. HISTORY
   

   
    
   
   During the First World War, when the Germans were looking out for some newer sources of fabric, it was then when they discovered milk's potential for cloth. They observed that when milk dries out it makes a hard film and there is a possibility for fibers out of that. The solutions of casein were spun experimentally to form fibers and it was forced through the jets into hardening baths forming solid filaments in which the long casein molecules had been given sufficient orientation to hold together in typical fiber form. These early fibers were of little value. They were brittle and hard and lacked the resilience and durability needed for textile use ⁽⁴⁾.
   
   
   
   
   
   During early 1930's
   an Italian chemist Antonio Feretti, experimented with casein fibres to try and overcome their drawbacks. He was successful, making casein fibres which were pliable and had many properties associated with wool. Feretti sold his patents to large Italian rayon firm Snia Viscosa who developed the large scale manufacture of casein fibres under the trade name of Lanital. In 1936 the output of Lanital was about 300 tonnes by the following year it had reached 1200 tonnes and in 1939 the production capacity was 10000 tonnes a year. It was manufactured to compete with wool. Casein fibres have since being produced under various names in a number of
   countries,
   a. Lanital in Belgium and France.
   b. Fibrolane in Britain .
   c. Merinova in Italy.
   d. Wipolan in Poland.
   e. Aralac in America (5)
   1945, the United States, Britain developed a milk protein fiber, but because of poor performance fiber, textile processing cannot be interrupted study. In the 1970s, Japan has been successful in developing a different natural fibers and a new type of chemical fiber, fiber - containing milk protein synthetic amino acid molecules, that is, today's milk fibers(6) .
   
   

1. PRODUCTION PROCESS OF CASEIN FIBER IN DETAIL

2. 1. RAW MATERIAL (CASEIN)
      

   
   
   Casein is obtained by the acid treatment of skimmed milk. The casein coagulates as a curd which is washed and dried, and then ground to a fine powder. 35 liters of skimmed
   milk produce about 1kg of casein
   
   
   
    

   1. MIXING, FILTRATION AND DEAERATION
      

      
      
      
      Casein is blended to minimize the effect of variations in quality and is then dissolved in sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). The solution is allowed to ripen until it reaches a suitable viscosity, and is then filtered and deaerated.
      

   2. SPINNING
      

   
   
   
   The spinning solution to is wet spun by extrusion through spinnerets into a coagulating a bath containing 2 parts of Sulphuric acid, 5 parts of formaldehyde, 20parts of glucose and 100 parts water. The jets of solution coagulate into filaments in a manner similar to the coagulation of viscose filaments. As the filaments emerge from the holes in the spinneret, the liquid polymer is converted first to a rubbery state and then solidified. This process of extrusion and solidification of endless filaments is called spinning. They are stretched to some degree during coagulation.
   
   Upto this stage, casein spinning is simpler,as the conditions are not so critical. But subsequent processing may become more involved, as it is necessary to treat the fibre chemically in order to harden it. The newly coagulated casein filaments are soft and weak, and will break easily if handled. The spinning process has aligned the casein molecules to some extent, but they are not organized into crystal structures comparable with those of cellulose. Water penetrates readily into the casein filament, pushing apart the long casein molecules and softening and swelling the filament.
   
   The effect of water on the untreated casein is such as to render it if little use as a textile fiber. If casein filaments are to be of practical textile use. They must be treated in such a way as to enable the long molecules to hold together in the presence of water, retaining an adequate degree of strength and dimensional stability. In common with all proteins, casein is a highly reactive material, and it is possible to make use of this activity to create cross-links between adjacent molecules. Such cross-links tie the casein molecules together and prevent them being forced apart by water molecules.
   

   1. CUTTING
      

      After spinning the long filamented fibers are cut into staple fibers as the long filament of casein fiber lack in strength so it is to be cut for further procedure.
      

   2. HARDENING
      

      Many methods of increasing the water resistance of casein have been developed and several techniques have been used successfully in practice. The process is described as hardening, in that it minimized the softening effects of water.The treatment with formaldehyde forms the basis of many hardening techniques.
      

   3. WASHING, DRYING AND BALING
      

      After hardening is done it is washed, dried and further proceeded for the process called baling⁽⁶⁾.
      
      

3. STRUCTURE AND APPEARANCE
   

• COLOUR-
  White
  
   
• LUSTRE -
  Lustrous
  

 

• MORPHOLOGY
  -
  The filaments are smooth - surfaced with faint striations. Cross- section is bean shaped to almost round⁽⁵⁾.
  

1. FIBER IDENTIFICATION
   

   
    
2. Identification of combustion
   
   Near the flame: Melt and curls
   
   Then into flame: Curly, melting and burning
   
   Leave the flame: combustion and sometimes eliminate
   
   Burning Smell: hair burning
   
   Remnants of characteristics: Black and basic crisp, but a trace amount lumps
   
3. Identification of dissolved
   
   Milk fiber in 2.5% NaOH solution, 100 degree for n30minutes after heating can be a unique milk protein fiber dissolved phenomenon
   
   Status: fiber swelling was rubbery freeze
   
   Colour changes: in the entire dissolution process, the fiber qualities of the colour gradually changed from dark red and then fade from dark red to pale yellow ⁽⁷⁾.
   

 

1. PROPERTIES
   

   1. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
      

      
       

   2. TENSILE STRENGTH
      

      
      
      
      Casein fiber has the tenacity of 9.7-8.0cN/tex when it is dry. When wet the fibers lose much of their strength then tenacity falls to 5, 3 to 2.6Cn/tex
      
      
       

   3. THERMAL PROPERTIES
      

      Casein fibers generally soften on heating, particularly when wet. Fibers become brittle and yellow on prolonged heating.
      

   4. EFFECT OF MOISTURE
      

      Casein tends to absorb moisture readily and the fibers become swollen and soft. They may become plastic and sticky as the temperature is raised.
      

   5. ELONGATION
      

      
      
      60-70 percent, wet or dry
      

   6. EFFECT OF AGE
      

      Very resistant
      

2. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
   

   
   
   

   1. EFFECT OF ACIDS
      

      Casein is stable to acids of moderate strength under normal conditions; it can be carbonized with cold 2 percent sulphuric acid solution. Casein fiber disintegrates in strong mineral acids, it resists dilute mineral acids and weak organic acids, even at elevated temperatures, some loss of strength and embrittlememt may occur after boiling for long time
      

   2. EFFECT OF ALKALIES
      

      Like wool, casein is sensitive to alkali. A mild alkali such as sodium bicarbonate and disodium hydrogen phosphate has little effect at low temperatures. Strong alkalis, such as caustic soda or soda ash cause severe swelling and will ultimately disintegrate the fiber.
      

   3. EFFECT OF ORGANIC SOLVANTS
      

      Dry cleaning solvents do not cause damage.
      

   4. INSECTS
      

      Casein fiber is not attacked by moth grubs to the same degree as wool. Damage may be caused, however, when the casein fiber is blended with wool.
      

   5. MICRO-ORGANISMS
      

      Casein fibers are attacked by mildews, particularly when moist.
      

   6. ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
      

      Dielectric strength of casein fibers is low
      

3. OTHER PROPERTIES
   

   Casein fibers resemble wool in having a soft warm handle. The fibers are naturally crimped and yarns have a characteristic warmth and fullness handle. Casein fibers provide good thermal insulation. They are resilient like wool⁽⁵⁾ .
   
   
    

4. PROPERTY COMPARISON OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
   

   
   
   

   Property	Casein fiber	Cotton	Silk	Wool
   Length (mm)	38	25-39	-----	58-100
   Fineness (dtex)	1.52	1.2-2.0	1.0-2.8	6-9
   Dry tensile strength(CN/dtex)	2.8	1.9-3.1	3.8-4.0	2.6-3.5
   Dry breaking elongation rate (%)	25-35	7-10	11-16	14-25
   Wet tensile strength (CN/dtex)	2.4	3.2	2.1-2.8	0.8
   Wet breaking elongation rate (%)	28.8	13	27-33	50
   Friction coefficient (static)	0.187	-	0.52	0.24
   Friction coefficient (dynamic)	0.214	-	0.26	0.384
   Logarithm of mass specific resistance (Wg/ cm2)	9.1	6.8	9.8	8.4
   Initial modulus (CN/dtex)	60-80	60-82	60-80	44-88
   Moisture regain (%)	5-8	7-8	8-9	15-17
   Specific weight (g/cm3)	1.22	1.50-1.54	1.46-1.52	1.34-1.38

   
    

5. FIBER TO FABRIC FORMATION
   

   
   

 

1. SPINNING
   

   1. PRETREATMENT
      

 

The mass specific resistance of milk protein fiber is larger, so the pretreatment before scutching is more important. After opening bales, the milk protein fiber needs some water and antistatic agent. Based on the tests of fiber property and the choice of antistatic agents, the moisture regain of pure spinning with milk protein fiber is controlled about 16%, and the add-on of chosen composite antistatic agent is about 1%. Meanwhile, the relative humidity in the workshop is controlled within 68~70% to reduce the electrostatic influence ⁽⁸⁾.

MILK FIBER BLENDS

1. Cool type：（milk fiber/silk, bamboo fiber, natural silk,cashmere）

 Moisture retentive, sweat conductive, comfortable and ventilative, has pleasant gloss, do not lose its straight character in being soft and smooth, can wear outside, can show out the elegance, person's taste and it is really good for health.

 

2. Thermal protection type：（milk fiber/mercerized wool,cashmere）

Milk albumen fiber is a kind of three-dimensional and multigap structure, its characteristic of light weight and high moisture absorption make it become extremely good cold-proof material; it is light and thin and cold-proof, comfortable and healthy.

 

3. Top grade underclothes：（milk fiber/cotton, cashmere）

The milk protein has abundant amino acid and natural wet protecting gene; it can moisten the skin and raise the skin, restrain the fungus and health care; when close-fitting wearing, it will take good care of your skin, make you younger, more beautiful and your vigor is limitles

 

4. Health care and body beauty： (Milk fiber/cotton, Leica）

Fashion, soft and light, health care. It combines the beauty and health together; reach the effect of beautifying body while being comfortable.

 

5. Home textile supplies: (Milk fiber/cotton, silk）

Milk fiber can regulate air quality, promote the human blood circulation, make you feel like you're taking a shower in milk and return to nature; in the noisy city, it is likely to open up a pure land, make the family life more warmhearted, and full of interest and charm⁽⁹⁾ .

 

1. OPENING AND PICKING
   

 

With good uniformity and less impurity, the milk protein fiber is bulky and it is easy to open, and the friction coefficient between fibers is low, and the cohesion force is relatively weaker. Thus, the process of opening and picking should adopt the process of precise picking, less beating and low speed. During production, the height of the beater in the grab machine stretched rib is 2.5mm, and the picking should be precise and the blending should be uniform. In the opening machine the card beater is adopted to reduce fiber damage and the constant volume of laps should be smaller to avoid neps during opening and picking so the lap quality can be stable. In order to make laps uniform, the anti-stick rollers are used and the pressure of tension rollers is increased to avoid the influence caused by sticking. It can be wrapped with plastic film after lapping to prevent volatilization of finishing oil and water.

1. CARDING
   
   

The objective of the process is to further open and clean the fibres delivered from the opening and picking line. The other objectives are to remove the trash and neps and sliver formation. The milk protein fiber has the features of high strength, good breakage elongation, low friction coefficient between fibers, weaker cohesion force, low

moisture regain and smooth and full. During the operation on the carding machine, fiber

always concentrates among pins to make fiber's movement difficult. So, the speed ratio

between licker-in and cylinder should be increased properly and the speed of cylinder

and licker-in should be reduced to improve the resultant yarn quality, decrease fiber damage and it is favorable for fiber to move from licker-in to cylinder and the card sliver is with clear web and the flying or nep is reduced. Reducing short fiber content in card sliver and noil and card strips, and cutting down the gauge between cylinder and doffer resolves the problem of worse movement and web's floating. During production, the technological principle of "small quantum, low speed and light pressure" should be adopted.

1. DRAWING
   

The main objective of this process is to improve fiber orientation by aligning the fibers in one direction. Since the milk protein fibre is bulky and with weaker cohesion force, the extended parallelization of fibre in card sliver is worse, and much hooked fibre exists, the extended parallelization of fibre should be improved as much as possible during drawing to reduce its weight irregularity. 8 slivers in each of two lines are adopted in doubling and drafting. Since the mass specific resistance of milk protein fiber is large, the static electrical phenomenon is serious, so speed should be reduced properly to avoid fiber winds, rubber-covered rolls and rollers. In order to improve strands and reduce hairiness, the drafting in the rear zone for first drawing should be large and the drafting for second drawing should be small - in this way, the extended parallelization of fiber is improved. Pressure should be larger, and enough gripping force should be proportional to drafting force to be sure to make change speed point of fiber concentrated during drafting and the strands standard is improved. In actual production, the technological principle of "more doubling, weight pressure, medium quantum and large gauge" is adopted.

1. COMBING
   

The main objective of this process are the reduction in short fibre content, removal of trash and neps, production of more straight, parallel and uniform sliver

1. ROVING
   

 

This process prepares the drawn sliver for the spinning process by converting it into an intermediate strand. It also helps in the further reduction of yarn. With long fiber length, the mass specific resistance of milk protein fiber is large, and the friction coefficient is small, so, the twisting coefficient of roving should be bigger unless hard head appears in spun yarn. And the elongation rate should be controlled to reduce accidental elongation, which is favorable to improve strands. In the case that roving isn't overlap, the winding density of roving should be bigger to reduce hairiness of resultant yarn. The drafting ratio in the rear zone should be smaller and the ratio in the front zone should be bigger to guarantee the strands standard of roving.

1. SPINNING
   

Since the fibre is soft, smooth and with weaker cohesion force, the amount of hairiness and thick and thin yarn always appears during spinning.
Therefore, the technological principle of "bigger twisting, smaller drafting ratio in the rear zone, larger roller gauge in rear zone and small nip gauge" should be adopted⁽⁸⁾ .

 

1. 
   WEAVING PROCESS
   

1. WINDING
   

   
    
   In winding, the electronic clearer is used and the air splicer is adopted to piece.
   
   
    

2. WARPING
   

   
   
   Warping is the process of making warping beams in which several warp ends are wound parallel to each other within known length of yarn.
   
   
    

3. SIZING
   

   
   
   
   Sizing of the warp yarn is essential to strengthen the yarn by adding starch to reduce breakage of the yarn and thus production stops on the weaving machine. On the weaving machine, the warp yarns are subjected to several types of actions i.e. cyclic strain, flexing, abrasion at various loom parts and inter yarn friction.
   
   With sizing the strength - abrasion resistance - of the yarn will improve and the hairiness of yarn will decrease. The degree of improvement of strength depends on adhesion force between fiber and size, size penetration as well as encapsulation of yarn.
   

4. WEAVING
   

   
   It is the process in which two distinct sets of yarns called warp and the filling yarn are interlaced to form a fabric. There are no special difficulties in weaving blend yarns
   
   
    

1. WET PROCESSING
   

1. DESIZING

   Enzyme products may be used, preferably at pH 4.0 to 6.0. If water soluble sizes have been used, desizing is not neccessory It is done to break down the size.
   

2. SCOURING
   

   It is processed mainly to remove the impurities present in the fiber.Synthetic detergents should be used, preferably under acid conditions .
   

3. BLEACHING
   

   In common with all wet processing, bleaching should be carried out if possible under weekly acid conditions, as casein fibers retain maximum strength and minimum swelling under these conditions.It improves whitness by removing natural colour and remaining impurities in the fibre. If alkaline processing is used, it must be followed by careful washing and acidification with acetic acid.
   

4. DYEING
   

   Casein absorbs moisture readily and does not have a highly orientated structure. Dyes can penetrate into the fibre without difficulty.In general, casein can be dyed with the dyestuffs used for wool. Acid, basic, direct and disperse dyes are used where good washing –fastness is not a prime essential.
   

5. DRYING
   

   After dyeing, loose stock and yarns may be centrifugally hydroextracted before being dried in conventional plant. Woven fabrics can be hydro-extracted by open width suction machine, or by centrifuging in open width. A recommended drying procedure is either to dry on a slack drier, followed by stentering or to dry and finish on an over feed stenter. It is essencial to allow an adequate shrinkage from grey to finished dimensions.
   

6. PRINTING
   

   Casein blend fabrics can be printed very effectively. Good results necessitate through preparation. If singeing is needed a light treatment with a low burner will be sufficient. A thorough scour is essential. Casein fibre is generally white and bleaching is not usually necessary. If required, a mild peborate or peroxide bleach should be used under controlled conditions. After preparing the fabric should be dried on the tins under minimum warp tension followed by white room stentering to a stable width. Fabrics containing casein may be printed by block, screen, roller, surface roller, and modified paper printer methods. Acid, basic, direct, chrome, mordant, azoic, vat or pigment dyes may be used.
   

7. FINISHING
   

   Milk protein fiber products should be after treated, such as crease-resist finishing and softening, tokeep it soft and delicate.
   
   Crease resistant finishing-The crease resistant finishing agent has more choices and the environmental finishing with good crease resist effect should be selected.
   
   Softening-During dyeing and producing, the milk protein fiber fabric feels hard after crease resistant finishing in high temperature and tension. In order to make fabric full and soft, softening is needed and softening with a suitable softening agent is an effective method.
   

8. CARBONISING
   

   The process is the same for cloth as for loose wool. The vegetable matter is destroyed by soaking the cloth in weak acids and then heating in an oven.
   
   Casein will withstand the carbonising treatment when carried out with the minimum strength of sulphuric acid necessary for the effective removal of vegetable matterAfter treatment the material should be well rinsed and adjusted to pH 4 with sodium bicarbonate..Carbonising may be carried out before or after dyeing. If done after dyeing it eliminates the general tendency of the process to cause unlevel dyeing.
   

9. MILLING
   

   Casein fiber itself does not display any milling properties, and blends of casein with other non-felting fibers such as rayon staple or nylon should not be processed in milling machines. A suitable milling medium is a mixture of 2 parts of soap to 1 part of synthetic detergent. A thorough washing off is essential after scouring or milling in order to remove soap and alkali.Acid milling has been used with success for blankets, and its general for most felted structures..Hat bodies of wool or fur blended with casein and other felts of various kinds are generally milled with phosphoric or sulphuric acid preferably at low temperatures.⁽⁵⁾
   
   
    

1. ADVANTAGES OF CASEIN FIBER
   

• It is hygienic and flexible
  
   
• It is highly smooth, sheen and delicate
  
   
• It is moisture absorbent, permeable and heat resistant
  
   
• It is colour fast and easily dyeable
  
   
• It can be blended with other fibers
  
   
• It is renewable, biodegradable and eco- friendly fabric
  
   
• It is great for sensitive skin as it has the same pH level as human skin
  
   
• It is environment- friendly and is considered as green product
  
   
• It contains 15 amino acids and natural anti-bacterial rate is above 80 percent so it has sanitarian function⁽⁹⁾.
  

1. DISADVANTAGES OF CASEIN FIBER
   

   
    

• It has a low durability
  
   
  It gets wrinkles easily after washing and needs to be ironed every time
  
  
   
• It should not be washed in machine and that is because it's not a very hard fiber
  
   
• Due to abundance of other fabrics like polyester, milk fabric never really became that popular ⁽¹⁾
  
   

1. APPLICATION AND OTHER END USES
   

   1. APPLICATION
      

      
       
      100 percent milk fiber is used for intimate garments and best suited for childrens apparel, as it is of the healthy and bacteriostatic nature. It is being considered as a perfect material for manufacturing. Milk casein proteins are considered as a main ingredient of milk protein fiber which can lubricate the skin. The milk protein contains the natural humectants factor which can help to maintain the skin moisture to reduce the wrinkles and to smoothen the skin.
      
      
       
      Major usages of the Casein fibers are
      
      
       

• Intimate garments
  
   
• Children's garments
  
   
• T-Shirts
  
   
• Sweaters
  
   
• Women's garments
  
   
• Sports wear
  
   
• Uniforms
  
   
• Eye mask

 

• Bedding⁽¹⁰⁾

 

APPLICATIONS

OTHER USES OF CASEIN

• Plastic- Casein plastics are most frequently encountered in the form of buttons, buckles and knitting needles but it was also used for fountain pens, propelling pencils, dress ornaments, knife handles, necklaces, dressing table ware, manicure sets and a wide variety of items generally referred to as "fancy goods".
  ⁽¹¹⁾
• Glues -
  The use of casein in the gluing of wood is reported to be a very ancient art. European craftsmen apparently understood a method of gluing with a crude casein (possibly the curd of soured milk mixed with quick lime) in the Middle Ages, and the art continued in a small way to modern times
  ⁽¹²⁾
• Cosmetics
  
• Pigments
  
• Coating paper -
  Casein is used as a protein supplement in the treatment of malnutrition and is used commercially in cosmetics, glues, pigments and as a sizing for coating paper.
  ⁽¹³⁾
  
• Leather Chemicals
  
• Aluminium Foil
  
• Paints
  ⁽¹⁴⁾
  
   
  
   
  Casein is commonly used by painters in the past as a binder to make paint with characteristics similar to egg tempera. The Pelikan Company of Germany produces casein paint called Plaka, which can be found in most artists' material stores. Its consistency allows for application by either brush or palette knife. It adheres well to paper, paperboards, wood, plaster, plastic, glass, and metal. It dries matte with velvet like finish and becomes waterproof in twenty-four hours. Outdoor use requires a final, protective varnish. Many artists use casein as a base or under painting and then finish the painting with oil glazes.
  

Casein Paintings Used for Button

 

Native American artist Oscar Howe of South Dakota used casein extensively.

Santa Clara Pueblo artist Pablita Velarde created a series of more than 70 paintings of everyday Native American life in New Mexico for Bandelier National Monument between 1937 and 1943, painted mostly using casein paints. Casein was widely used by commercial illustrators as the material of choice until the late 1960s when, with the advent of acrylic paint, casein became less popular.

 

 

REGISTERED TRADEMARK

Milkofil® is used to make light weaves with a soft silky aesthetics that allow the skin to breathe and humidity to be absorbed. Milkofil® is a registered trade mark of Filati Maclodio, who make a variety of yarns both pure and in blend with cotton and Lenpur®.
Milkofil®, made from pure 100% milk fiber⁽¹⁵⁾.

1. AFTER CARE
   

   1. WASHING
      

      
       
      Garments containing casein fibre should be washed with care and treated very gently. High temperatures and strongly acid or alkaline conditions must be avoided. Neutral detergents are preferable for washing.
      
      
       

   2. DRYING

      Garments should be dried as wool, care being taken to avoid high temperatures

   3. IRONING

      The full, soft handle of garments containing casein will be maintained if they are only very slightly damp or almost dry before being ironed or pressed. Wool settings should be used

   4. DRY CLEANING

 

Casein is not affected by dry cleaning solvents and garments containing casein can be dry cleaned readily as wool⁽⁵⁾ .

1. DESIGNERS
   

   1. DOLRES PISCOTTA 

      
      DOLRES PISCOTTA has a background in the fine arts: painting, sculpting, textile design and classical piano and guitar. She was also one of the first, if not the first designer in the world with a collection of clothing made from organic cow's milk.She began in 1997 with a few classic sweaters in the bright & glorious colors we have become known for. Always maintaining luxury fibers and classic elegance, the company has also evolved into one known for novelty designs combined with revolutionary fibers such as soybean/cashmere & milk yarn. The founder and designer for all collections, is Dolores Piscotta whose background in the fine arts, textile design, and classical music are evident in originality of the designs. Our wholesale design services include: private label, regular & plus sizes, designs for women, men, children, babies, dogs^.(16)
      

   2. CASEY LARKIN
      

      CASEY LARKIN
      and her label Mr. Larkin have been making a big splash in the eco-fashion world over the last year or so, impressing buyers, press and consumers alike in showings at the D&A Green Market in LA and The Green Shows in New York, and recently won the Readers Choice Award for Emerging Designer of 2009 at ecouterre.com. Speaking of fibers, the red carpet at the recent Screen Actors Guild Awards was graced by Casey's "milk gown," made from eco-friendly milk-fiber. Livia Firth, columnist/blogger for Vogue.com and wife of actor Colin Firth, donned the unique and elegant ⁽¹⁷⁾
      

   3. PER SILVERTSEN
      

 

The luxurious fashion label Fin, based in Oslo, The head designer Per Silvertsen was the winner of Norway's most prestigious designer fashion award, Naloyet 2009. All Fin collections are 100% carbon neutral and are made from organic materials such as cotton, bamboo, baby alpaca, milk and silk. As a responsible label Fin follows Fair trade principles and requires the same action from everyone who works with them. They count Keira Knightley and Kate Bosworth amongst their high-profile fans. ^(18).

1. MANUFACTURERS
   

INDIAN MANUFACTURER

Fabman Fabrics and Manufacture

Contact:
info@fabmanindia.com (19)

 

INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURERS

Cyarn Textile Co., Ltd.

Contact: info@cyarn.com (20)

 

Euroflax Industries (Imports of Textiles)

Contact: euroflax@euroflax.com (21)

 

Shanghai Zhaokai Import & Export Co

Contact: http://zhaokai.en.made-in-china.com
(22)  

 

China Xhmart Textile Co., Ltd. (23)

 

Ningbo Guang Yuang Fabric Co, Ltd.

Contact: http://www.new-fabric.com (24 China Liahren Co, Ltd. Contact : info@liahren.com (25)

 

1. CONCLUSION
   

   
    
   
   All through the years, experts have been devoted to the researches on improved fibers and at present they have succeeded in the development of the globally advanced milk protein fiber, a milestone in the international textile industry.The emergence of milk protein fiber updates the traditional definition of animal protein fiber. Being the optimal combination of nature and hi-tech, it is more accommodated to the needs of people's modern lifestyle. So far clothing made from milk is expensive so it has a limited market however a handful of companies are experimenting with this fabric.
   
   
    
   To educate designers about these revolutionary materials, the future fashion initiative offers a textile research team. Advances in science are also helping to fill the green wardrobe of tomorrow. Sweaters are knit from spun milk protein. There are even researchers working on a wool-like fabric made from some of the four billion pounds of chicken feathers left over from poultry processing each year. These textiles are where the future innovations are going to lie. It's taking fashion to a whole new level where it never really existed before- where it's not just about looking good. It's about feeling good, too.
   
   
    
   The Milk Fabrics are so skin-friendly that it itself makes us feel better
   and it is a fresh product as a superior green, healthy and comfortable fiber, which will certainly become popular goods in the market.
   

 

1. REFERENCES
   

   (1) http://www.articlealley.com/article_1813977_15.html
   

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   http://www.kosmix.com/topic/milk_fibre_cloth
   

   (4)
   http://www.articlecat.com/Article/Milk-Fabrics--A-Smarter-way-to-Absorb-Milk-
   

   (5) Hand book of Textile Fibers – J. GORDON COOK,Vol.II,Reprinted in 2003
   

   (6) http://www.doshi-group.com/milk_fiber.asp
   

   (7) http://www.milkfashion.com/fiberintroduction3_en.htm
   

(8)
http://www.swicofil.com/milvet_milk_fiber_recommendations.pdf

(9) http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/31/3005/milk-fabrics-a-smarter to- absorb-milk-nutrients2.asp

(10) http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/What-Is-Milk-Fiber-/1774427

(11) http://www.plastiquarian.com/index.php?id=60&osCsid=15ea42c03992923

(12) http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrn/fplrn158.pdf

(13)
http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/cgi- bin/res.pl?keyword=Cosmetics&offset=0

(14) http://www.australianartforum.com/showthread.php?t=5772

(15) http://www.filatimaclodio.it/EN/milkofil

(16) http://dolorespiscotta.com/cart/page.html?chapter=0&id=8

(17)
http://www.examiner.com/fashion-news-in-portland/eco-fashion-label-mr-larkin-

enjoys-sky-rocketing-profile

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http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/5914/1/made-of-milk

(20) http://fabmanindia.com/

(21) http://euroflax.com/

(22)
http://zhaokai.en.made-in-china.com/

(23) http://en.china.cn/

(24) http://www.new-fabric.com

(25) http://www.bamboo-china.com/contact.html