Industry guide / Industrial processes
Textiles and Industrial Processing
Follow the fibre through sizing, preparation, dyeing, printing and finishing. Compare trial results on the intended fabric and keep samples from each process stage.
Process guide
From warp preparation to colour fastness
Explore 6 processes and 29 distinct materials. Choose a process to compare candidates, operating conditions and trial methods.
Residual size interferes with dyeing
Establish the conditions
Identify starch, PVA or blended size on the warp. Check size removal and fabric damage separately.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Compare desizing efficiency, absorbency, tensile strength and evenness of subsequent dyeing on the same cloth.
Cotton misses whiteness, absorbency or strength targets
Establish the conditions
Identify the fibre and operation. Set separate targets for wetting, whiteness and strength retention.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Use one lot of greige fabric to record absorbency, whiteness, weight loss and strength. Apply separate acceptance criteria for scouring, bleaching and mercerisation.
How can shade variation and vat dyeing fluctuations be reduced?
Establish the conditions
Identify the fibre and dye class. Compare colour difference, fastness and bath conditions for the appropriate process.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Record liquor ratio, dye lot and colour difference. Select auxiliaries for reduction, exhaustion or fixation according to their individual roles.
Printed outlines bleed or the fabric feels stiff
Establish the conditions
Choose the trial for reactive or pigment printing. For finishes, check yellowing, handle and wash durability.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Match the thickener or binder to the print chemistry. Compare outline definition, handle and colour fastness after washing.
Tanned leather varies in softness or color
Establish the conditions
Define hide type, target colour, softness and restricted-substance requirements.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Compare tanning, dyeing and fatliquoring on hides of similar type and thickness. Keep reference pieces for colour and handle, and check the relevant restricted-substance documentation.
Color bleeds after washing or wet fastness is poor
Establish the conditions
Check the fibre, dye class, finishing target and customer restricted-substance list before comparing auxiliaries.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Keep the fabric and dye lot constant. Measure backstaining in soaping, wet rubbing fastness and shade after finishing as distinct outcomes.
Documentation and purchasing
Prepare for a technical discussion
Share your current material or specification, process conditions, trial acceptance criteria, estimated quantity and destination. For regulated uses, identify the finished product and intended market.