Knitted fabrics mercerization

Mercerization improves dimensional stability of cotton woven fabrics [63]. When knitted fabrics are compared with respect to their relative openness, temperature increases can be said to improve mercerization because when the goods are bleached and then mercerized, the fabric becomes more dense. However, when unbleached fabrics are mercerized, the fabrics become more open [64]. Mercerization also gives moderate improvement in crease recovery of cotton fabrics [65] as well as some protection against the decrease in tensile strength caused by easy-care finishing. 

The Collar Perfecta chain mercerizer uses two low volume impregnation units with low tension fabric guiding. The Collar Optima Model MM chainless mercerizing range for single run treatment of woven and knitted fabrics, from pile or large-diameters batch, may be optionally used for impregnation with caustic soda dry-on-wet or wet-on-wet. 

The traditional machines used for mercerizing woven fabrics are inadequate to treat circular knit fabrics. Owing to knit structure, such fabrics are easily deformed, distorted and extended on stretching during mercerization and washing. These dis-... 

Based on the tubular fabric mercerizing machine, Domier, GmbH, has developed a combinable mercerizing and bleaching concept for tubular warp knitted fabrics. The combined mercerizing/bleaching machine (Fig. 9-23) comprises im-... 

Figure 9-23. Combined mercerizing/bleaching machine for tubular warp knitted fabrics (Courtesy of Domier, GmbH).

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