Mercerization
Mercerization is a textile finishing process for cellulose
fabric and yarn, mainly cotton and flax, which improves dye uptake and tear
strength reduces fabric shrinkage, and imparts a silk-like luster.
Benefits of Mercerization
The benefits of mercerization are below-
1. To increase silk-like luster.
2. To improve moisture regain/content
3. To increase dye absorbency.
4. To improve strength and elongation properties.
5. To increase smoothness and hand feel is good.
6. To stabilize the strength of yarn or fabric.
Mercerizing process
The mercerizing process where cotton is treated with solutions of 55–65 °
Twaddle scale (20–30%) sodium hydroxide. Treatment with sodium hydroxide
destroys the spiral form of the cellulose with the formation of alkali
cellulose, which is changed to cellulose hydrate on washing out the alkali.
Caustic soda concentrations of 20–26 % are used. Effective mercerization
requires the use of wetting agents. The improved luster of mercerized cotton is
due to the production of nearly circular cotton fibers under tension. Another
characteristic feature of cotton fiber is untwisting. In Dry Mercerization,
the process is completed while the fabric is drying on the Stenter. The silk-like luster now commonly associated with mercerizing is
produced.
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