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Finishing

Antimicrobial finish on textiles using plant extracts

The plant extract treated fabrics were subjected to the antimicrobial activity test against the E-coli and S.aureus bacteria and also the finished samples have been analyzed for their durability of the finish by standard methods. There were no bacteria found on the surface of the treated fabrics and shows an appreciable zone of inhibition against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The combinatorial plant extracts show a very good zone of inhibition when compared to individually treated fabrics. The treated fabrics also have greater durability. The finish which is applied to the fabric did not affect any physical properties of the fabric. Since these plants are extensively available in the market, the opportunity for implementing this antimicrobial finish in the textile industry is high.

Batik designs – How to make Batik designs

Batik is a textile art used to print or decorate the fabric and also called as “wax writing”. It is a technique of covering parts of fabric which will not receive color. The creation of batik involves three major processes – waxing, dying and de-waxing.

Textile Product Dyeing and Finishing

When ‘colour’ is applied to a fabric it is termed as dyeing. Dyeing and printing of fabrics are usually done after routine or basic finishes but prior to the application of other finishes. It is mainly done to give color to the fabric and thus improve the appearance of the fabric.

Special Textile Finishes

Special finishes are done on textile materials to enable it to use for special purposes such as the finishing of fabrics with flame retardants can reduce the tendency to burn or reduce the tendency to propagate the flame. Laminating is the permanent joining of two or more prefabricated fabrics.

Routine Textile Finishes

Routine finishes are applied to almost all fabrics with an aim to improve their appearance. A finish is anything that is done to a fabric after weaving or knitting, to changes its appearance, hand and performance. When a finish is applied, say on cotton, it might become more shiny, stronger or resist shrinking on washing. Similarly, other finishes may make the fabric softer or stiffer; water or stain resistant; coloured or designed.

Special Garment Finishes

There are finishes done on garments such as Permanent Press Finish particularly on pants for center crease of the pants to stay crisp and make them look fresh and neat.

Fabric Finishes for Enhancing Appearance

There are finishes applied to fabrics to enhance the look and feel of the fabric, in other ways the finishes neither strengthen the quality of the fabric nor they are done to transform the fabric for special purposes such as the fire retardant finish.

Pre-Shrinking Finish on Fabrics

Pre-shirking is needed almost on all fabrics because most textile materials shrink when washed. However preshrinking can only reduce the residual shrinkage to a lower percentage, but cannot completely eliminate it. On cotton fabrics, usually take away 8-10%shrinkage by preshrinking, leaving about 5-6% in them.

Textile Finishing Processes

The whole cycle of finishing consists of mechanical and chemical processes, which are used depending on the kinds and end uses of the fabric. Mechanical processes include drying, calendaring, schreinering, embossing, sueding, raisingetc and chemical processes include in the application of special substances on the fabric, impregnation with size, starch, dextrin and other polymeric substances.