What are the Fabric Finishing Processes?

Fabric finishing is a technical treatment method to give fabrics color effects, shape effects (smooth, velvety, crisp, etc.) and practical effects (waterproof, non-shrinking, iron-free, moth-proof, flame-resistant, etc.). Fabric finishing is a process that uses chemical or physical methods to improve the appearance and feel of fabrics, enhance wearing performance or give them special functions. It is a processing process that "adds icing on the cake" for textiles.

Various finishing processes are as follows:

1.Pre-shrinkage

The process of using physical methods to reduce the shrinkage of fabrics after being soaked in water to reduce the shrinkage rate. Mechanical pre-shrinkage is to wet the fabric by steam or spray, then apply mechanical extrusion in the warp direction to increase the buckling wave height, and then dry it in a loose manner.

2.Tentering

The process of gradually widening the fabric width to a specified size and drying it using the plasticity of fibers such as cellulose, silk, and wool under wet conditions to stabilize the fabric shape is also called fixed width finishing.

3.Sizing

It refers to the finishing process of dipping the fabric into the slurry and drying it to obtain a thick and stiff effect.

4.Heat setting

The process of making the shape of thermoplastic fibers and blended or interwoven fabrics relatively stable is mainly used for the processing of synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester and their blends that are easy to shrink and deform after heating. The heat-set fabric can improve the dimensional stability and feel stiffer.

5.Whitening

The process of increasing the whiteness of textiles by using the principle of complementary colors of light is also called whitening. There are two types: blueing and fluorescent whitening.

6.Calendering

Calendering is a process that uses the plasticity of fibers under hot and wet conditions to flatten or roll out parallel fine twills on the surface of the fabric to enhance the gloss of the fabric. Electro-calendering is the use of electrically heated rollers to calender the fabric. The embossing is composed of a steel roller with a positive pattern and a soft roller. Under hot rolling conditions, the fabric can obtain a glossy pattern.

7.Sanding

The process of using a sanding roller (or belt) to grind a layer of short and dense fluff on the surface of the fabric is called sanding,which can make the warp and weft yarns produce fluff at the same time, and the fluff is short and dense.

8.Napping finishing

The process of using dense needles or thorns to pick up the fibers on the surface of the fabric to form a layer of fluff, also known as napping finishing, is mainly used for woolen fabrics, acrylic fabrics and cotton fabrics. The fluff layer can improve the warmth retention of the fabric, improve the appearance and make it soft.

9.Cropping

The process of using a shearing machine to cut off the unnecessary hair on the surface of the fabric. The purpose is to make the fabric texture clear and the surface smooth, or to make the fluff or suede of the raised or pile fabric neat. Generally, wool, velvet, artificial fur, carpets and other products need shearing.
10. Softness

There are two methods of finishing: mechanical finishing and chemical finishing. Mechanical softening finishing is achieved by rubbing and bending the fabric multiple times, and the softening effect after finishing is not ideal. Chemical softening finishing is to apply softener on the fabric to reduce the friction coefficient between the fiber and the yarn, so as to obtain a soft and smooth feel, and the finishing effect is significant.