Textile finishing

Textile finishing

In textile manufacturing, any operation for improving the appearance or usefulness of a fabric after it leaves the loom or knitting machine can be considered a finishing step. It improves the look, performance, or "hand" (feel) of the finish textile or clothing. Finishing is the last step in fabric manufacturing and is when the final fabric properties are developed. Finishing is mostly done in fabric form rather than in yarn form. 

The variations of finishing depend on the following factors:

·         The type of fiber and its arrangement in yarn and fabric

·         The physical properties of fibers such as swelling capacity and behavior when   pressure or friction is applied

·         The capacity of fibers to absorb chemicals.

·         The weakness of the materials to chemical modification.

·         The most important factor, the desirable properties of the material during its use.

Objectives of textile finishing are given below: 

·              To change the surface characteristics of textile materials.

·              To increase life and durability of textile materials.

·              To set the chemicals into the textile materials.

·              To impart new characteristics/properties of textile materials such as flame                       retardant, water repellent or water proof finishes.

·              To set the fabric, so that it can be maintained its shape and structure.

·              To meet up specific end uses.

Some of the temporary finishes are:

·              Mechanical: calendar, schreinering, embossing, glazing, breaking, stretching, etc.

·              Filling: starch, china clay and other mineral fillers

·              Surface application: oil, different softeners and other finishing agents.

Some of the durable finishes are:

·              Mechanical: compressive shrinkage, milling of wool, raising and cutting                           processes, permanent setting, etc.

·              Deposition: synthetic resins—both internal and external, rubber latex, laminating, etc.

·              Chemical: mercerization, parchmentizing, cross-linking agents, water repellent                 finish, fire-resistant and fireproofing finishes, shrink proofing of wool, etc.

We can also classified textile finishing in the following ways:

·              Physical finishing

·              Functional finishes of textile

·              Chemical finishes

·              Plasma finishing

·              Coated finishing