What is mercerization?

 

Mercerization is a finishing process, especially for cotton, which was discovered by chance in 1844 by John Mercer. The surname also gives the process its name. During mercerization, the natural shine of cotton fibers is enhanced using caustic soda and tension. The shine achieved through the process is wash-resistant and the treated cotton has greater tear resistance, but loses elasticity. Other positive properties that the material has after mercerization are better dyeability, a softer surface and greater strength. The quality of the material is significantly increased, but the process is very expensive and is therefore usually only used for exclusive fabrics for exclusive products.

 

What happens during mercerization?

During mercerization, the structure of the fibers is changed because the addition of caustic soda causes the cell wall of the cotton fibers to swell. This increases the surface area of ​​the fiber and the degree of reflection increases. If the thread is then held over an open fire, the small protruding fibers burn and the appearance is improved even more. There are different types, e.g. cold mercerization or hot mercerization. With hot mercerization, the lye penetrates the fibers better and faster. However, if the yarn is dyed, there is a risk that the color will change due to the influence of heat and lye, which is why cold mercerization is recommended here. Mercerization also better protects the material against shrinkage after washing. Additional sanforization is not necessary.

 

What is mercerized?

Fabrics for damask and satin bed linen in particular are mercerized to enhance the shine on the bed covers. Since long cotton fibers in particular respond particularly well to mercerization, the finishing process is also often used for fine Mako satin bed linen. Even knitwear acquires positive properties through mercerization. But also in the clothing industry, for example, fabrics for shirts, underwear or other outerwear are mercerized.