Mercerisation
Mercerisation is a
.Development
The process was devised in 1844 by
parchmentising effect of sulfuric acid.[2]
The silk-like lustre now commonly associated with mercerising is produced by tension and was discovered by Horace Lowe in 1889.[1]
Process
Treatment with sodium hydroxide destroys the spiral form of the cellulose with formation of
wetting agents.[3]
The improved lustre of mercerised cotton is due to the production of nearly circular cotton fibres under tension. Another characteristic feature is the untwisting (deconvolution) of the cotton hair.
In dry mercerization, the process is carried out while drying the fabric on a stenter.
References
- ^ a b Knecht, Edmund (1911). . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 150–151.
- ^ J. T. Marsh (1948), "Dispersion Processes", An Introduction To Textile Finishing, pp. 111–133
External links
- Cotton Fabric Mercerization at the Wayback Machine (archived February 2, 2017)