mercerisation
Mercerisation, or mercerization, is a textile finishing process applied primarily to cotton and other cellulose fibers. It involves treating the fibers with a concentrated sodium hydroxide solution under mechanical tension. Named after John Mercer, who first reported the process in 1844, mercerisation increases luster, strength, and dye uptake.
The process typically uses 18–25% NaOH, sometimes up to about 28%. The fabric or yarn is padded
Chemical and physical changes accompany mercerisation. The alkali causes the cellulose to swell and induces a
Variants and considerations include cold (room-temperature) mercerization, which is gentler, and hot mercerization, which can yield
Safety and environmental impact: Mercerization uses caustic soda and generates alkaline effluent, requiring appropriate handling, wastewater