COTTONCotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium in the family of Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. Under natural conditions, the cotton bolls will tend to increase the dispersion of the seeds.The plant is a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, Africa, and India. The greatest diversity of wild cotton species is found in Mexico, followed by Australia and Africa.[1] Cotton was independently domesticated in the Old and New Worlds. The English name derives from the Arabic (al) qun , which began to be used circa 1400 AD.[2] The Spanish word, "algodn", is likewise derived from the Arabic.Flow chart of pre treatment of cotton fabric:

All the processes of this stream are carried out in an aqueous state or aqueous medium. The main processes of this section include : singeing Desizing Scouring Bleaching MercerizingSingeing:The verb singe literally means to burn superficially. Technically, singeing refers to the burning-off of. Loose fibers not firmly bound into the yarn and/or fabric structure.Singeing is an important part ofpretreatment. This is the burning off of protruding fiber ends from the surface of the fabric.

Singeing is the process is removing the hairs of fabrics or fibers. In singeing process, we use three technique to applied it. Such as, gas flame technique. At the end of this process, we will find, that the fabrics is smoother than before and the fabrics wet ability is increase.

Technique of singeing:

Singeing Processis as follows: To produce a smooth surface finish on fabrics made from staple fibers first the fabric surfaces are brushed lightly to raise the unwanted fiber ends. Then the fabric is singed with or passed over heated copper plates or open gas flames. The fiber ends burn off. The fabric is moved very rapidly, and only the fiber ends are destroyed. As soon as the fabric leaves the singeing area, it enters a water bath orDesizing bath. This stops any singeing afterglow or sparks that might damage the cloth.Figure of singeing M/C:

Desizing:Desizing is the process or removing the starch or size the covering the warp yarn using enzyme. Oxidizing agent, or other chemicals. There are three types of technique in desizing and four method of desizing that has been used.

Objectives Of Desizing: Toeliminatethewaterrepellentnatureofsizedcloth. Toincreasetheabsorbency. Toreducetheconsumptionofchemicalsinsubsequent process.

Technique of desizing:

Desizing Methods: Enzymatic Desizing. OxidativeDesizing. Acid Steeping/Desizing. RotSteein. Desizingwith hot caustic sodatreatment. Hot washingwith detergent. Removable of water soluble sizes. Atmospheric PlasmaDesizing.

Enzymatic Desizing: The hydrolysis of starch using enzymes under particular concentration, temperature and duration is called enzymatic desizing. Enzymatic desizing is the most widely experienced method to desize the starch. Advantages &Disadvantages: Advantages: No usageofaggressive chemicals:No damageto the fiber. Wide variety of application processes. Disadvantages: Lower additionalcleaningeffect towardsother impurities. No effect on certain starches (e.g. tapioca starch).Oxidative Desizing: It is used to remove non-starch sizes that dont dissolve in water. A variety of oxidants can be applied after padding the hydrogen per oxide (H2O2) and steam for 2 to 3 minutes.The advantages of oxidative desizing are supplementary cleaning effect, effectiveness for tapioca starches but oxidizing agents may damage to fibres.

Acid Desizing: Cold solutions of dilute sulphuric acid (H2SO4)or hydrochloric acid (HCl) are utilized to degrade starch and other sizes. However this method has also disadvantageofbad affecting the cellulosic fiber in cotton fabrics.

Lye (Caustic Soda) Desizing: In this method fabric containingstarch would be expanded under the hot solution ofsodiumhydroxide (caustic soda-NaOH). Caustic soda dissolves starch and form layer, can be separated. Padding the fabric in alkali and stacked under 60 ~80 C for6 to 12hours, thedesizingprocesscan be finished.

SomeDesizingAgents: Ecolase LT Finozyme-DX FinoconFBOL EnzmeGT

Figure of desizing:

Scouring: Scouring is the process by which all natural and additive impurities such as oil, wax, fat, hand dust etc. are removed to produce hydrophilic and clean textile material. It is one of the vital processes of wet processing.

Objects of Scouring: To make the fabric highly hydrophilic. To remove impurities such as oils, waxes, gum, husks as nearly as possible. To increase absorbency of fabric or textile materials without physical and chemical damage. To produce a clean material by adding alkali. To make the fabric ready for next process. To remove non-cellulosic substance in case of cotton. Scouring process depends on: The type of Yarn. The color of Yarn. The cleanliness of Yarn. The twist and count of the yarn. The construction of the fabric. The shade % and type of shade of finished product.

Objects of Scouring: To make the fabric highly hydrophilic. To remove impurities such as oils, waxes, gum, husks as nearly as possible. To increase absorbency of fabric or textile materials without physical and chemical damage. To produce a clean material by adding alkali. To make the fabric ready for next process. To remove non-cellulosic substance in case of cotton. Scouring process depends on: The type of Yarn. The color of Yarn. The cleanliness of Yarn. The twist and count of the yarn. The construction of the fabric. The shade % and type of shade of finished product.Scouring process: Batch process. Semi continuous process. Discontinuous process. Modern process. Scouring methods of Cotton: Generally, there are two principle methods of cotton scouring. Discontinuous (Kier boiling process or winch dyeing machine) Continuous (Scouring in J or L box)

Main parts of kier boiler: Cylindrical vessel Mixing tank(liquor prepared according to recipe) Multi tubular heat exchanger(heating the liquor) Perforated false bottom Circular tube(spray liquor on fabric)Process: The working process in J-box can be divided into four units. There are Impragnaion box Pre heater. J box. Washing unit.

Bleaching:Bleaching is chemical treatment employed for the removal of natural coloring matter from the substrate. The source of natural color is organic compounds with conjugated double bonds , by doing chemical bleaching the discoloration takes place by the breaking the chromophore, most likely destroying the one or more double bonds with in this conjugated system. The material appears whiter after the bleaching.

The aim of bleaching can be described as following: Removal of colored impurities. Removal of the seed coats. Minimum tendering of fibre. Technically reliable & simple mode of operation. Low chemical & energy consumption. Increasing the degree of whiteness.Bleaching AgentA bleaching agent is a substance that can whiten or decolorize other substances. Bleaching agents essentially destroy chromophores (thereby removing the color), via the oxidation or reduction of these absorbing groups. Thus, bleaches can be classified as either oxidizing agents or reducing agents.

Bleaching agents

Type of Bleaching Agents: Oxidative Bleaching Agents Reductive Bleaching Agents Enzymatic Bleaching Agents

Recipe for Bleaching:NaOH 17ml/kgSOAP (DTC) 2ml/kgSTABILIZER 5ml/kgH2O2 30ml/kgReaction time 25min.speed 50-70m/minBleaching agents Oxidative bleaching the bleaching agent is a chemical reagent which decomposes in alkali solution and produce active oxygen. The active oxygen is in fact the intrinsic bleaching agent as it will further destroy partly or completely the coloring matter present in the textile material. Reductive bleaching the bleaching agent will destroy the coloring matter by reductive reaction of SO2.Bleaching agent:Auxiliaries used for bleaching: Stabilizers Activators Wetting agents/detergents Sequestering agents Anti-corrosion agents

Mercerizing: Mercerization is one of the most important finishing processes of cotton with a strong caustic alkaline solution in order to improve the lustre, hand and other properties. It imports gloss to the fiber, increases its hygroscopicity, strength and improves its dye affinity. Mercerizing improves the reactions with a variety of chemicals and elongation of the fibres and also improves the stability of form. Mercerizing process consists in treatment of cellulosic materials with concentrated solutions of caustic soda at a temperature of 15 to 18C.Purpose of mercerizing:1.To improve the lusture.2.To improve the strength.3. To improve the dye uptake and moisture regain.

Effect of Mercerization: Improve Luster. Increase ability to absorb dye. Improve reaction with a verity of chemicals. Improve stability of form. Improve strength/elongation. Improve smoothness. It has been shown that the increase in the luster occurs because of an effect. The cotton fiber do convoluted. The cross-sectional shape changes.

Different mercerizing machinery/technology: Knitted fabric mercerizing m/c. Woven fabric mercerizing m/c. Automatic hank yarn mercerizing m/c. Chainlesss-padless mercerizing range. Clip mercerizing m/c. Open width fabric mercerizing m/c with caustic recovery unit.

Factors of Mercerizing: In mercerizing followings are important:Twaddle Temperature Tension TimeLuster of yarn after mercerization: