The processing of cotton fibers and other cellulose fibers is very complex. It mainly uses processes such as tanning, desizing, mercerisation and bleaching. Textile industry uses lot of chemicals to process the fabric. Most fabrics are finished in what is called “wet processing” where the process is accomplished by applying a liquid – which accomplishes some sort of chemical action to the textile – as opposed to “dry processing”, which is a mechanical/physical treatment, such as brushing. It is a series of innumerable steps leading to the finished textile, each one of which also has a complex number of variables, in which a special chemical product is applied, impregnated or soaked with the textile fiber of the fabric. A defined sequence of treatments can then be followed by another sequence of treatments using another chemical substance. Typically, treatments are arranged to permit a continuous mode of sequences.
The chemicals used can be subdivided into: Textile Auxiliaries and Textile Chemicals. Our Focus is on Textile Auxiliaries which are listed below
Complexing agents, which form stable water-soluble complexes
Surfactants, which lowers the surface tension of water so grease and oil to be removed more easily
Surfactants, which lowers the surface tension of water so grease and oil to be removed more easily
Sequestering agents
Dispersing agents
Emulsifiers
