återmjukning

Återmjukning is a term used in Swedish and other Scandinavian languages to denote the process of restoring softness to a material after it has become stiff or hard through drying, aging, or processing. The term combines åter- meaning “again” with mjukning meaning “softening.” In technical usage it refers to reintroducing plasticity or pliability to a material by controlled conditioning, rather than simply re-drying or reprocessing.

Practices vary by material. In textiles and fabrics, återmjukning may involve humidity control, steam, washing with softeners, or controlled drying to reintroduce suppleness. In leather processing, post-tanning softening uses oils, waxes, or conditioning creams to restore surface suppleness. In wood products, re-humidification in a moisture-controlled environment can partially restore elasticity after kiln-drying; in polymers, re-softening may occur through the addition of plasticizers, heat, or solvent exposure.

Considerations and scope. Proper control of temperature and humidity is essential to avoid over-softening, swelling, or surface defects; the process can be time-consuming and material-specific. The term is primarily found in technical Swedish texts and is not always used consistently across disciplines; equivalents in other languages may differ (re-softening, conditioning, rehydration).

See also: softening, conditioning, humidity treatment.