Finishing Processes and Recent Developments

This chapter discusses the most prevalent finishing methods and types, and explores some of the new developments that are set to revolutionise certain areas of textile finishing. The lustrous appearance can be further enhanced by impregnating the fabric with a waxy or starchy additive before calendering, which then fills the gaps in the fabric and results in an even smoother finish. Chemical finishes are typically available as an aqueous solution or emulsion, so the application of these agents is generally referred to as ‘wet finishing’. The fabric is submerged in a liquor containing chemicals, the saturated fabric is then passed into a nip to squeeze out excess liquor and the finished fabric is then cured and/or dried. Finishes that are hydrophobic and oleophobic are often referred to as stain-resistant or soil-resistant finishes, as they prevent a wide range of potentially staining liquids from wetting the fabric.