Mercerization Parameters:

Mercerization is carried out on gray fabric or after scouring or bleaching.

Rapid and uniform wetting of the gray cloth.
Small agent of penetrating or wetting agent is added to the caustic bath.
Blends of wetting agents may use with optimum mercerization for;

No affinity to fibre.
Low foaming power.
Good efficiency at low concentration and stability under
conditions of sodium hydroxide recovery.

Racipie for mercerization:

For cold

Temp 15-18 oC.

Caustic soda solution of 31-35%.
Time 50 sec.

For hot mercerization

Temp 60-70oc.
Time 20 sec.
NaOH strong lye 38-28 Beo weak lye 8-10 beo.

Some important questions about mercerization????

Q.1 Why we dont prefer cold mercerization process?

Ans The cold mercerization process is fastess of swelling but only outer edges
density of fiber is wetted and second the viscosity of caustic is such that
penetration becomes more difficult.

Q.2 What happened when cotton soaked in caustic?

Ans the cellulose is changed into hydro cellulose or soda cellulose.

Q.3 Why mercerized cotton takes dyes so quickly?

Ans. Cellulose cant dyed easily but hydro cellulose absorbs at least any kind of
dye.

Q.4 What is role of stretch during mercerization process?

Ans. Stretch causes lustre and more the stretch more the lustre.

Q.5 Why we use wetting agents in mercerization?

Ans. Because high viscocity of strong caustic sada at low temp hinder the
penetration of alkalie.

Q.6 What is used for neutralizing the fabric?

Ans. Acetic acid is used to neutralize the fabric.