Conditions for mercerization

Mercerization is defined as the treatment of cotton textiles with a concentrated solution of alkali consisting the following conditions  

Mercerization may be carried out on grey fibres or after scouring/bleaching. 

Cellulose undergoes chemical, physico-chemical and structural modifications on treatment with caustic soda solution of mercerizing strength [5]. Chemical reactions lead to the formation of alkali cellulose, physical reactions, to a change in arrangement of units of cellulose. The optimum modifications in the properties of 

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