Mercerizing is done after the bleaching operation. Bleaching is enough for preparing the fabrics for dyeing and printing but mercerizing is done for adding some advantage to the fabric. The luster and strength of the fabric increase during mercerizing process. Cotton mercerizing is the most popular operation.
Mercerizing Process Stages
Mercerizing of cotton is done in three basic stages of materials. They are as:
Mercerizing in Yarn stage
- Hank form
- Package form
- Beam form
Mercerizing in Fabric Stage
- White fabric
- Woven fabric
- Knitted fabric
Mercerizing in Dyed Fabric Stage
Methods of Mercerizing Process:
Yarn or fabric can be mercerized by J-Box. Mercerizing is a continuous process. At first, the fabric is hanked by the roller in a J-Box. Fabric is passed through a solution that contains 23% NaOH at room temperature. Fabric is passed for 4-5 minutes. Then the fabric is squeezed by the squeezed roller and washing is done in a bath at 85 degrees Celsius. Then it is also immersed in an acid solution bath which contains 5% CH3COOH. After that is washed in another bath at 85 degrees Celsius. In this way, we can get a mercerized fabric.
Flow Chart of Mercerizing Process:
For white finished goods, mercerizing is done by the following sequence:
Fabric after scouring and bleaching process
Padding in alkaline liquor
Neutralization in acid solution
A marketable fabric can be produced in different ways. But day by day man wants to wear that’s a type of fabric which has all possible facilities. Mercerizing is done in different types of machines. Generally mercerizing is done in a dyeing machine. Yarn and Fabric Mercerizing are near similar.
The different well-known buyer wants to get mercerized products. They strictly follow the qualities of the product. After mercerizing fabrics become more suitable for dyeing or printing or for white goods to be ready for delivery to the buyer.