# Mercerisation

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{{Short description|Chemical treatment for cellulosic yarns}}
thumb|right|Mercerized cotton yarn reels
thumb|right|Spool of a two-ply mercerized cotton thread with a polyester core.

'''Mercerisation''' is a [textile finishing](/source/textile_finishing) treatment for [cellulose](/source/cellulose) [fabric](/source/fabric) and [yarn](/source/yarn), mainly [cotton](/source/cotton) and [flax](/source/flax), which improves [dye uptake](/source/Dyeing) and [tear strength](/source/tear_strength), reduces [fabric shrinkage](/source/Shrinkage_(fabric)), and imparts a [silk](/source/silk)-like [luster](/source/Luster_(textiles)).

== Development ==
The process was devised in 1844 by [John Mercer](/source/John_Mercer_(scientist)),<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Mercerizing |volume=18 |pages=150–151 |first=Edmund |last=Knecht}}</ref> who treated cotton with solutions of{{nbsp}}20–30% [sodium hydroxide](/source/sodium_hydroxide) followed by washing. Mercer observed that the treatment shrank the fabric and increased its tensile strength and affinity for dyes. In the original process of Mercer, no tension was applied. The product was termed ''fulled cotton'', a nod to the process of [fulling](/source/fulling) in woven wool fabric. Mercer regarded the increased affinity for dyes as the most important technical aspect. Mercer also experimented with [sulfuric acid](/source/sulfuric_acid) and [zinc chloride](/source/zinc_chloride) solutions and discovered the [parchmentising](/source/Parchmentised_cotton) effect of sulfuric acid.<ref>{{citation | author=J. T. Marsh | chapter=Dispersion Processes | title=An Introduction To Textile Finishing | year=1948 | pages=111-133 | url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.6810}}</ref>

The silk-like lustre now commonly associated with mercerising is produced by tension and was discovered by [Horace Lowe](/source/Horace_Arthur_Lowe) in 1889.<ref name=EB1911/>

== Process ==
Treatment with sodium hydroxide destroys the spiral form of the cellulose with formation of [alkali cellulose](/source/alkali_cellulose), which is changed to [cellulose hydrate](/source/cellulose_hydrate) on washing out the alkali. Caustic soda concentrations of 20–26% are used. Effective mercerization requires the use of [wetting agent](/source/wetting_agent)s.<ref>{{citation | contribution=Textile Auxiliaries | title=[Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry](/source/Ullmann's_Encyclopedia_of_Industrial_Chemistry) | edition=7th | year=2007 | doi=10.1002/14356007.a26_227}}</ref>

The improved lustre of mercerised cotton is due to the production of nearly circular cotton fibres under tension. Another characteristic feature is the untwisting (deconvolution) of the cotton hair.

In dry mercerization, the process is carried out while drying the fabric on a [stenter](/source/stenter).

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001125/http://www.thesmarttime.com/pretreatment/mercerization.html |date=February 2, 2017 |title=Cotton Fabric Mercerization}}

{{fabric}}

Category:Fibers
Category:Cotton
Category:Textile treatments
Category:1844 introductions

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mercerisation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercerisation) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercerisation?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.