Mercerization of cotton fabric with low concentration sodium hydroxide solution at low temperature

Abstract

Generally cotton mercerization is conducted in a mercerizing bath containing high concentration of caustic soda or sodium hydroxide solution such as 20-30%. After mercerization, the alkali waste solution is often treated with an acid for neutralization of the waste treatment process. This project is proposing a possibility of mercerization of cotton fabric with lower caustic soda concentration than 20% through a merceization at low temperature. Cotton woven and knitted fabrics were mercerized with 10-30% caustic soda solutions at various temperature of 5-40 ํC and were tested for the degree of mercerization, dye absorption, strength, and pH. Fabrics mercerized with 10% solution showed same degree of mercerization as the unmercerized fabric but they obtained better dye absorption ability and higher fabric strength and elongation. While fabrics mercerized with 15-30% solution showed higher degree of mercerization, dye absorption, and fabric strength and elongtion than the unmercerized fabric. To obtain an acceptable mercerizing outcome, cotton fabrics need to be mercerized at concentrations not lower than 10%. The recommended mercerizing condition is to mercerize at 15% caustic soda solution at 10-20 ํC for 30 seconds.