Mercerized cotton: features and properties

Cotton is one of the most ancient natural plant fibers on earth. It is obtained from cotton, the fruit-box of which opens and together with the seeds a down appears, similar to lumps of cotton wool. Cotton was first cultivated as a cultivated plant for the first time in India 7 thousand years ago. But only in the Middle Ages, he became popular in Europe. It is already impossible to imagine our daily life without products from this fiber - various fabrics, cotton wool, paper.

Mercerization is a short-term processing of the fabric with a concentrated solution of caustic soda. This technology takes its name from the name of the English chemist John Mercer. This scientist in 1844 invented the process of enrichment of cotton fibers with sodium hydroxide. As a result, the fiber swelled, and the fabric became more durable, easily dyed, although it was reduced in size. In 1890, another scientist - Horace Low - began to stretch the canvas so that it did not lose its size and brought this process to perfection.

The mercerization process consists of several stages and is fully automated. Initially, the yarn is treated with caustic soda - this is mercerization. Then cotton fiber is dyed and bleached, while neutralizing the alkaline pH. The final stage is the burning of the fiber in a gas burner so that it is freed from excessive pile and becomes smooth and silky.

For mercerization, the best long and extra long fiber cotton are selected, therefore, after this process, the fabric acquires the following remarkable qualities:

• becomes durable and wear-resistant, carries a large number of washes;
• perfectly preserves the shape of the product, does not form the pellets;
• receives bright saturated colors that do not fade or fade;
• gets beautiful noble shine;
• made soft and silky;
• hygroscopicity is even more fixed;
• it is almost not rumpled, it is easily ironed;
• does not sit down in the process of washing.

You will learn more about the properties of mercerized cotton by watching the following video.

From mercerized cotton sew casual clothes: T-shirts, T-shirts, blouses, underwear. It is ideal for sewing a variety of children's clothing. Bed linen from this wonderful material is comfortable and durable. Often mercerized fabrics are used for sewing home textiles: tablecloths, napkins, towels. And also from its fibers make yarn for hand and machine knitting.

This material has several advantages compared to regular cotton. They are as follows.

• Mercerized cotton is much better in strength than usual.
• The yarn from mercerized cotton can be easily dyed in any color. In addition, the paint lasts longer, does not fade from sunlight and does not fade for several years.
• Mercerized fabric perfectly absorbs moisture, which is very important for wearable clothing, such as T-shirts or underwear.
• To the touch, the treated fiber is more silky and pleasant than regular cotton, and has a beautiful sheen.
• Mercerized fabrics practically do not crumple, and after washing, the fabric never shrinks in them.

The disadvantages include only the high price of products made from this material. And this is only natural, because only elite varieties of cotton are taken for mercerization. In addition, the processing takes place on expensive equipment using expensive production technology.

There are several simple techniques for the difference in fabric from 100% cotton, which has passed the mercerization, from the usual.

1. The treated fabric always has a brighter color.
2. Externally, it is very similar to synthetic or silk fibers.
3. Run your hand over the surface of the fabric. Products from mercerized cotton are smooth to the touch, while ordinary ones have rough edges.
4. You can crumple the edge of the fabric in your palm, and then sharply unclench the brush. Processed cotton does not wrinkle. If you do the same with ordinary cotton, it will be very dented.
5. Mercerized cotton thread burns instantly and to the ground, while you feel the smell of burning paper.
6. If you wear a mercerized fabric item, you will feel the coolness of it.

If the label of the item you bought says mercerized cotton or 100% mercerized cotton, then you got a wonderful and easy-to-care material. It is only necessary to wash and iron it at high temperatures.

Natural materials are much better quality than artificial ones, and cotton is deservedly called “white gold”. Mercerized cotton fabrics are bright, strong and durable. Using mercerization, you can create an environmentally friendly natural material with excellent properties. Products from this material are very comfortable and easy to maintain. Despite the high price, with proper care, things from this unique fabric will long delight you with their beautiful appearance.