mercerising

The action of alkalies on cellulose or cotton is one of great importance in view of the universal use of alkaline liquors made from soda or caustic soda in the scouring, bleaching and dyeing of cotton, while great interest attaches to the use of caustic soda in the "mercerising" of cotton.

The Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics A Practical Handbook for the Dyer and Student Franklin Beech

The shrinkage of the cotton, which takes place during the operation of washing with water, was for a long time a bar to any practical application of the "mercerising" process, but some years ago Lowe ascertained that by conducting the operation while the cotton was stretched or in a state of tension this shrinkage did not take place; further, Thomas and Prevost found that the cotton so treated gained a silky lustre, and it has since been ascertained that this lustre is most highly developed with the long-stapled Egyptian and Sea Island cottons.

The Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics A Practical Handbook for the Dyer and Student Franklin Beech

The best results are obtained, it appears, by the preliminary mercerising treatment and placing the alkali cellulose in contact with copper and ammonia.

Researches on Cellulose 1895-1900 C. F. Cross

It is interesting to observe that the addition of zinc oxide to the caustic solution increases its mercerising powers.

The Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics A Practical Handbook for the Dyer and Student Franklin Beech

The author concludes that Lowe's specification undoubtedly describes the lustreing effect of mercerising in much more definite terms than that of

Researches on Cellulose 1895-1900 C. F. Cross

In the mercerising reaction, or alkali-cellulose stage, it is true the differences are considerable.

Researches on Cellulose 1895-1900 C. F. Cross

This mercerising under tension is now applied on a large scale to produce silkified cotton.

The Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics A Practical Handbook for the Dyer and Student Franklin Beech

The author has described in his American patent (4) a method of effecting the solution in the cold, viz. again by first mercerising the cellulose and washing away the caustic soda.

Researches on Cellulose 1895-1900 C. F. Cross

Solutions of caustic soda of 1.000 or 20° Tw. in strength have very little mercerising action, and it is only by prolonged treatment that mercerisation can be effected.

The Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics A Practical Handbook for the Dyer and Student Franklin Beech

The process of mercerising cotton yarns and cloth has been developed to an industry of colossal dimensions, and the growth has been especially rapid during the last five years.

Researches on Cellulose 1895-1900 C. F. Cross