Miscellaneous Properties

Textile Science and Care 3(2+1)

Lesson 04 : Cotton Fibre

Miscellaneous Properties

Effect of Sunlight: Prolonged exposure to sunlight disintegrates cotton by turning it to yellow. The presence of dyes and other finishing agents and pollutants may also augment the deterioration.

Effect of Mildew: Cotton is affected by bacteria and fungi such as mildew. Cottons can be boiled safely to remove microorganisms. Storing away from moisture prevents from developing mildew black spots on fabric.

Effect of Moths: Moths and beetles will not affect cotton but it is damaged by silver fish which eats cotton cellulose.

Effect of Perspiration: Cotton is not affected by perspiration. However, the dyes used may not be fast.

Finishes given to cotton: Cotton, being in grey, may not be a fabric opted by everybody. There is large scope for finishing cotton to produce qualities in which cotton lacks.

  • Preparatory finishes- Scouring, bleaching and singeing
  • Routine finishes- calendaring, tentering.
  • Special purpose finishes.
    • Sanforization – compressive shrinkage for maximum preshrinking.
    • Mercerization – to improve strength, luster, absorbency and affinity for dyes.
    • Wash n wear – for no ironing.
    • Wrinkle resistance – free from wrinkles, for retention of appearance.
    • Water repellency – for resistance to water and rain
    • Stiffening- for building body and to provide smoothness
    • Schrenerising – for producing luster on the surface of starched products
    • Parchmentization - to impart transparency and permanent stiffness to cotton fabrics.
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Last modified: Wednesday, 9 May 2012, 7:45 AM