DESIZING
INTRODUCTION: The major portion of the size consists of starch, wax and
tallow. All these remain on the warp yarn even after weaving the cloth.
Objects: 1.To remove starch from the fabric.
2.To increase absorbency of the fabric.
3.To make the fabric ready for the next subsequent process.
4. To reduce stiffness and make the fabric softer
Classification of Desizing method:
Desizing
Method
Oxidative method
by oxidizing agent e.g.
Hydrogen peroxide,Sodium
Hypochlorite,Sodium,Chlorite,
Sodium Bromite etc.
Hydrolytic
Method
Rot Steep
Enzymetic Steep
Acid Steep
Rot Desizing
In this process, the grey cloth is dipped in a tank full of water for 24 hours
and a give temperature range of 25-40oC. The bacteria present in water produce
enzyme, which react with starch and converted them into glucose unit, which are
soluble in water and on washing the fabric can easily be removed. This is slow but
economic process.
Advantage: Extra chemical need not be used
Problems associated with rot steeping:
Low efficiency due to longer treatment time
Degradation of cellulose due to cross-infections of mildew if the fermentation
process is not properly controlled.
Acid Desizing
The process of acid steeping is also called as grey scouring. In this process
grey cloth is placed in a weak solution(0.5-1%) of H2SO4 for 4-6hours at a
maximum temperature of 40oC starch become soluble in water.
Typical recipe:
Dilute Sulphuric Acid: 5-10 g/l
Temperature: 40 C
Time: 4-6 h
Process description:
In this method cotton fabric is treated with dilute sulphuric acid which attacks the
polymer chain of starch.
The degraded starch is removed from the fabric by normal washing treatment.
Problems associated with Acid steeping:
With sulphuric acid higher than 10 g/l and above 50 C, there is always the
possibility of weakening the cloth or causing holes.
The treated cloth must not be allowed to dry at all otherwise degradation of
cotton will occur at the dried area.
Rise in temperature increases the rate of reaction, but at the same time there is
possibility of attacking the cellulose chain. Generally, the rate of reaction doubles
for each 10 rise in temperature.
Enzymetic Desizing
The desizing process can be done in two ways
The normal temperature method (60-70 C)
The high temperature method (90-100 C)
After Desizing following test is done to ensure the Desizing (Iodine Test)
Recipe:
Potassium Iodide (KI) 0.24gm.
Iodine (12) 0.13gm
And water to make 100ml
If one drop of this
falls on the sizing material:
Deep blue Present of starch.
Violet Partially degraded starch (dextrin)
Desizing conditions of different enzymes:
Type of Enzyme Temperature ( C)
Pancreatic
Malt extract
Bacterial
50-55
55-60
65-75
pH value
7.0-7.5
5.5-6.5
5.5-7.5
Concentration
(gm/l)
1.0-5.0
3.0-20.0
0.5-3.0
SCOURING
The desizing process is actually a destarching process because in this the starch
present on warp yarns is liquefied by either hydrolytic or oxidative reaction and
removed in subsequent washing step.
But after desizing the fabric still contains fats and waxes (both natural as well as
added), which adversely affect the absorbency of the fabric. These impurities are
removed from the fabric by the process of Scouring.
Thus the main purpose of scouring cotton fabric is to remove the natural as well
as added impurities of essentially of hydrophobic nature as completely as
possible and leave the fabric in highly absorptive state without undergoing a
significant chemical or physical damage.
The scouring process is done by boiling the fabric in an alkali solution. The main
processes occur during scouring are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Saponification of oils present in the fibre.
Waxes and unsaponifiable material is removed by emulsification of the same.
Pectins are changed into their soluble salts of pectic acid.
Mineral matters are dissolved.
Proteins are hydrolysed into degradation soluble products.
Dirt or dust is removed and held in a stable suspension by the detergents present
in the scouring bath.
Vegetables oils, animal fats and mineral oils
Vegetables oils, animal fats and mineral oils are not soluble in water. Thus when
grey cotton fabric immersed into water, the oil present in cotton will not allow the
water to spread on the fibres.
These vegetable oils are glycerides of fatty acids like stearic acid, palmitic acid,
and oleic acid. When such oils are heated with NaOH the oil splits into its
constituents fatty acids and glycerine, out of which glycerine is water soluble. The
fatty acid again react with NaOH to form its sodium salt i.e. soap which is also
soluble in water. Thats why this reaction is called saponification. Thus the
saponification reaction converts the insoluble and water immiscible oil is
converted to water-soluble products.
CH2 OOC - C17H35
CH2 OH
CH OOC - C17H35
CH OH
CH2 OOC - C17H35
CH2 OH
Tristearin (Glyceride of stearic acid)
Glycerine
3C17H35 - COOH
stearic acid
Waxes
The waxes present in the cotton as well as in size formulations cannot be removed by
saponification. Waxes are esters of high molecular weight fatty acids and alcohols. The
waxes and lubricating oils are not converted into their soluble products. They are
therefore removed by emulsification.
Pectin
The Pectin substances are present in the cotton in the form of insoluble salts of
Calcium, Magnesium and Iron. These metal salts are solubilized in alkaline solution.
Pectic acid is a compound of high molecular weight containing carboxylic group for
every 6 Carbon atom. It is insoluble in water but soluble in alkaline solution.
Mineral matters
The quantity of inorganic matters is in the range of 0.7- 0.6% by the weight of
anhydrous cotton.
The main constituents are Na2CO3, K2O, Na2O, K2CO3, CaO, and CaCO3. 85% of
these materials can be removed by simply boiling with water.
Phosphorous present in the form of organic and inorganic compounds which are
mostly soluble in hot water and which can become insoluble in the presence of
alkali earth metals.
Therefore use of hard water during scouring can precipitate alkali earth metal
phosphate, which can get deposited on the surface of the fibre instead of getting
eliminating from it.
The scouring process requires use of soft water because the use of hard water
would cause precipitation or insolubalizaion of soap.
It must be considered that cotton fibre contains Ca and Mg salts (pectin salts)
which are freed during alkali treatment and can also contribute to the insolubility
of soaps and at the same time remains attached to the fabric in the form of
hydroxides.
Thus they might disturb subsequent operations such as bleaching, dyeing and
printing. It is therefore necessary to add sequestering agents (chelating agents or
metal complexing agents e.g. Nitrilo Triacetic Acid (NTA), EDTA, gluconic acid.
Sequestering agents also help in the elimination of iron, which can give problems
during subsequent bleaching with hydrogen peroxide.
Proteins
Proteins are hydrolysed into degradation soluble products.
Cotton proteins consist of protoplasmic residues. Proteins are mainly
concentrated in the primary wall. The known colour, which appears during
scouring, could be due to the reaction between proteins and carbohydrates in the
alkaline medium.
Dirt or dust
During scouring some dust, dirt and solid particles are loosened from the fabric. These
particles leave the fabric and enter into the scouring bath but again get deposited on
other parts of fabric/fibres. So to remove these particles and to keep this in suspension
or dispersion form, detergents are added in scouring bath.
Three components in a cotton scouring bath
A detergent is a good wetting agent. If the detergent is used in scouring bath
another wetting agent need not be added to the scouring bath.
Therefore, there are three components in a cotton scouring bath:
Caustic, to swell and dissolve the motes and to saponify oils and waxes,
Surfactant, to lower the bath's surface tension so it can wet-out the fabric
faster and to emulsify oils and waxes and
Chelating agent, to form water dispersible complexes with heavy metals.
