10 fabric finishing processes
fabric finishing Concept
Fabric finishing is a method for treating fabrics. It adds color effects and changes their feel, like smooth or velvet. Fabric finishing makes fabrics look better and feel nicer. It also boosts their performance or adds special features using chemical or physical methods. It is a processing process that “adds icing on the cake” for textiles.
Fabric finishing methods fall into two main types: physical/mechanical finishing and chemical finishing. According to the purpose of finishing and the different effects produced, fabric finishing can be divided into basic finishing, appearance finishing, and functional finishing.
The basic finishing methods of fabrics are: finishing methods that stabilize size and improve appearance, finishing methods that improve feel and optimize performance, finishing methods that make fabrics multifunctional and high value-added, finishing methods that make fabrics advanced, and finishing methods that meet special requirements.
Purpose of fabric finishing
Improve the appearance of textiles:
Including improving the gloss and whiteness of textiles, and enhancing or weakening the fluff on the surface of textiles. Such as whitening, calendering, electro-optical, Yawen, sanding, shearing, and shrinking.
Improve the feel of textiles:
Chemical and mechanical methods are used to give textiles different textures. These can include soft, smooth, plump, stiff, light, or thick feels. Such as soft, stiff, weight gain, etc.
Improve the durability of textiles:
Chemical methods help prevent damage to fibers from sunlight, air, or microorganisms. They also extend the life of textiles. Such as moth-proof and mildew-proof finishing.
Give textiles special properties:
Including giving textiles certain protective properties or other special functions. Such as flame retardant, antibacterial, water-repellent, oil-repellent, UV protection, and antistatic.
Common fabric finishing processes
Preshrinkage
Preshrinkage is a method that helps limit how much fabrics shrink after getting wet. It uses physical techniques to lower the shrinkage rate. Mechanical preshrinkage involves these steps: first, wet the fabric with steam or spray. Next, apply warp mechanical extrusion to boost the buckling wave height. Finally, dry the fabric loosely.
Stretching
Stenting is a process that uses the plasticity of fibers such as cellulose, silk, and wool under wet conditions to gradually widen the fabric to a specified size and dry it to stabilize the fabric shape. It is also called fixed-width finishing.
Sizing
Sizing refers to the finishing process of dipping the fabric in sizing liquid and drying it to get a thick and stiff feel.
Heat setting
Heat setting stabilizes the shape of thermoplastic fibers and blended or interwoven fabrics. It is mainly used for the processing of synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester and their blends that are prone to shrinkage and deformation after heating. Fabrics that have been heat-set can improve dimensional stability and feel relatively stiff.
Whitening
Whitening makes textiles whiter by using complementary colors of light. There are two whitening methods: blueing and fluorescent whitening.
Calendaring, electro-optical, and embossing
Calendering is a process. It uses the flexibility of fibers in hot, wet conditions. This helps flatten the fabric’s surface. It also rolls out fine twills to improve the fabric’s gloss. Flat calendering is a hard calendering point composed of a hard roller and a soft roller.
After the fabric is calendered, the yarn is flattened, the surface is smooth, the luster is enhanced, and the hand feels stiff. Soft calendering is a soft calendering point composed of two soft rollers. After the fabric is calendered, the yarn is slightly flat, the luster is soft, and the hand feels soft.
Electro-calendering is the use of electrically heated rollers to calender the fabric.
Embossing is a calendaring point composed of a steel roller with a positive pattern and a soft roller. Under hot rolling conditions, the fabric can get a glossy pattern.
Grinding, sanding
The process of grinding a short and dense layer of fluff on the surface of the fabric with a sanding roller (or belt) is called sanding, also known as sanding. Sanding finishing can make the warp and weft yarns produce fluff at the same time, and the fluff is short and dense.
Raising
Raising is the process of using dense needles or thorns. They pick up the fibers on the fabric’s surface. This creates a fluffy layer, called napping finishing. Raising is mainly used for woolen fabrics, acrylic fabrics, and cotton fabrics. The fluff layer can improve the warmth retention of the fabric, improve the appearance, and make it soft.
Shearing
Shearing is the process of using a shearing machine to cut off the unnecessary fluff on the surface of the fabric. Its purpose is to make the fabric texture clear and the surface smooth, or to make the fluff or velvet of the raised and piled fabrics neat. Generally, wool, velvet, artificial fur, carpets, and other products need shearing.
Softening
There are two methods of soft finishing: mechanical finishing and chemical finishing. Mechanical soft finishing is achieved by rubbing and bending the fabric many times, and the soft effect after finishing is not ideal. Chemical soft finishing adds a softener to the fabric. This reduces friction between fibers and yarn, giving a soft, smooth feel. The finishing effect is noticeable.
Fabric finishing technology is evolving. It focuses on functionalization, differentiation, and high-end processing. The goal is to enhance wearing performance and boost product value. Recently, new technologies have emerged to enhance processing depth and quality. These include low-temperature plasma treatment, bioengineering, ultrasonic technology, and electron beam radiation.
Other methods like inkjet printing, microcapsule technology, and nanotechnology are also being used. People are increasingly concerned about environmental pollution and destruction. This focus leads them to value health and support a “low-carbon” economy. Finishing technology needs eco-friendly “green” processing. This helps make “clean” and “low-carbon” textile products.
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