Page 88 - Shawl Weaving Artisan - TT

Textile & Handloom Related Theory for Exercise 1.6.49-53
Shawl Weaving Artisan - Wet Processing

Introduction to wet processing and preparation of fabrics

Objectives: At the end of this lesson you shall be able to
• explain textile wet processing and various stages involved in wet processing.

Textile wet processing is a series of chemical and 3 Scouring: Actually pure wet processing operation
mechanical treatments that are used to alter the starts from scouring, which is the process of removing
appearance, performance, and durability of textile natural oils, waxes, and impurities from raw cotton
materials after they have been woven or knitted, but or other natural fibers. Scouring is done by using a
before they are made into finished products. These combination of water and chemicals like soda ash,
techniques are performed using water or other liquids, sodium hydroxide, and hydrogen peroxide.
which is why they are referred to as “wet processing”. 4 Bleaching: The next stage is bleaching, which is the

Flowchart of textile wet processing process of removing natural color from fibers or fabrics
Flowchart of textile wet processing is given below image. and making them whiter. Bleaching is done by using
chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide or chlorine.
(Fig 1)
The most common method is the use of hydrogen
Fig 1 peroxide in the presence of catalysts like sodium
Grey textile Materials silicate, sodium hydrosulfite or sodium formaldehyde
sulfoxylate.
Singeing
5 Mercerization: Mercerization is a process that
Desizing increases the luster, strength, and dye ability of cotton
fabrics. It is done by treating the fabric with a caustic
soda solution, which causes the fibers to swell and
Scouring
become more receptive to dyes.
Bleaching 6 Dyeing: The process of dyeing is used to add color to
fibers or fabrics. Dyeing can be done using a variety of
Mercerizing techniques, such as immersion dyeing, yarn dyeing,
and piece dyeing. Different types of dyes are used for
Dyeing Printing
different fibers, such as acid dyes for protein fibers,
Finishing and disperse dyes for synthetic fibers.
7 Printing: Printing is a process that uses dyes or
Finished Textile Materials pigments to create patterns or designs on fabrics.
There are various methods of printing such as screen
The various stages of wet processing are as follows: printing, digital printing, roller printing, block printing
1 Singeing: Actually singeing is not a textile wet and rotary printing.
processing process. But before starting wet 8 Finishing: Finishing is the last stage of wet
processing, singeing operation is done to remove processing, which includes various mechanical and
protruding and hairy fibers from fabric. Singeing is a chemical treatments to improve the appearance,
process of passing an open-width fabric over a gas performance, and durability of the textile. Finishing
flame at such a distance and speed that it burns only techniques can include softening, stiffening, water
the protruding fibers but does not damage the main repellent, wrinkle-free, anti-microbial, UV protection,
fabric. The main objective of the singeing process is flame resistant etc.
to produce a clean fabric surface and reduce fabric
pilling tendency by removing the protruding fibers from These processes are often used in combination to
the fabric surface. achieve the desired result. It’s important to note that the
order of the stages may vary depending on the specific
2 Desizing: Desizing is a process in wet processing that application, the type of textile and the desired final result.
is used to remove the sizing material (a starch-based
or synthetic material) that is applied to yarn or fabric Importance of textile wet processing
during the weaving process. This sizing material is Textile wet processing is an essential part of the textile
used to make the yarn or fabric stronger and more industry, as it is used to improve the appearance,
stable, but it must be removed before the fabric can performance, and durability of the textile. The importance
be dyed or printed. of wet processing can be summarized as follows:

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