Finishing (textiles)

In textile manufacturing, finishing refers to the processes that convert the woven or knitted cloth into a usable material and more specifically to any process performed after dyeing the yarn or fabric to improve the look, performance, or "hand" (feel) of the finish textile or clothing.

In order to impart the required functional properties to the fiber or fabric, it is customary to subject the material to different types of physical and chemical treatments.

In a similar way, mercerising, singeing, flame retardant, water repellent, waterproof, anti-static and peach finishing achieve various fabric properties desired by consumers.

The use of 100% synthetic textiles has increased considerably since the development of textured yarns made of filaments and the growing production of knit goods.

The use of open weave has enabled the production of lighter, breathable, fabrics to ensure better wearing comfort.

The greige cloth—woven cotton fabric in its loom-state—not only contains impurities, including warp size, but requires further treatment in order to develop its full textile potential.

Singeing in textiles is a mechanical treatment or finish to obtain a neat surface of the fabric or less hairy yarn.

In a singeing machine, the yarns or fabrics are exposed to direct flames to burn the protruding fibers of the textile materials.

[10] Scouring is a chemical washing process carried out on cotton fabric to remove natural wax and non-fibrous impurities (e.g. the remains of seed fragments) from the fibres and any adventitious oil, soiling or dirt.

A kier is usually enclosed, so the solution of sodium hydroxide can be boiled under pressure, excluding oxygen which would degrade the cellulose in the fibre.

[11] A further possibility is mercerizing, during which the fabric is treated with a caustic soda solution to cause swelling of the fibres.

[12] Color is a sensation caused when white light from a source such as the sun is reflected off a pigment on the surface.

Shearing is a kind of mechanical finish in which the appearance of the fabric is enhanced by cutting the loops or raised surface to a uniform and even height.

[21] Many other chemical treatments may be applied to cotton fabrics to produce low flammability, crease resist and other special effects.