Top 25 Chemicals Used in Garment Washing Plants and Their Functions: Easy Guide

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Introduction

This article is about the different types of chemicals used in garment washing plants and their functions. One can not enrich his or her knowledge about garment washing without understanding the list of garment washing chemical and their functions. I think these articles will cover different types of washing chemicals and their functions such as wetting agents, enzymes, bleaching agents, potassium permanganate, sodium metabisulphite etc. The comprehensive guide details the different types of chemicals used in the washing process and will provide you with the right knowledge about essential chemicals for washing plants and their applications.

List of chemicals used in garment washing plants

Blow listed different types of chemicals used in garment washing plants

Wetting agent
De-sizing agent
Enzyme
Bleaching power
Sodium metabisulfite
Potassium permanganate
Acetic acid
Phosphoric acid
Sodium hyposulphite
Anti back stain
Caustic soda
Soda ash
Sodium bi carbonate
Sodium chloride
Biopolishing
Softening agent
Silicon
Buffer
Hydrogen peroxide
Stabilizer
Fixing agent
Optical brightener
Resin
Defoaming agent
Sequestering agent

Now, lets know in details about chemicals for washing plants and washing chemicals functions.

Garments Washing chemicals Functions

1. Wetting Agent

Wetting agents are chemicals that decrease the surface tension of liquids. It is determined by the strength of the bonds between the molecules of a liquid that determines the surface tension of a liquid. In order for the liquid to spread more easily across any solid surface, wetting agents stretch these bonds and decrease the tendency of molecules to hold together.

Functions of wetting agent:

During the washing process, wetting agents act as surfactants, which reduce surface tension in the water, making it easier to immerse denim fabrics.
Different types of chemicals used in garment washing plants are well mixed with water with the help of a wetting agent.

2. De-sizing Agent

Sizing materials are used to increase the strength of warp yarn during weaving. But these sizing materials create problems during the garment washing process. Hence, a De-sizing agent is used to remove the sizing material from denim fabric.

Functions of de-sizing agent:

The de-sizing agent is mainly used to remove starches, CMC, waxes, fats, pectins, minerals, as well as unfixed indigo dye from denim, twill, poplin & canvas fabrics, among others.

3. Enzyme

The enzyme is a protein composed of hundred amino acids that is produced by living organisms. It is responsible for a number of biological reactions and activities, and it is also a biocatalyst and organic compound with a higher atomic weight. Several factors control these reactions, including temperature, density, pH, and time.

There are two types of enzyme used in garment washing plant. they are:

Acid enzyme: The enzyme which is work in acidic medium (pH 5-5.5) and comparatively at low temperature (45⁰-50⁰ C) is called acid enzyme. Acid enzyme is available in liquid form.
Neutral enzyme: The enzyme which is work in neutral condition (pH 6.5-7) and comparatively at high temperature (55⁰-60⁰ C) is called neutral enzyme. Neutral enzyme is available in power form.

Function of enzyme

Enzyme is used in garment washing plant to get the abrasion effect of denim pant.
Sometimes, enzyme is used for scouring and pretreatment.
Enzyme hydrolysis cellulose. It attacks the having projecting fibers and hydrolyzed them. As a result, color comes out from the yarn portion and faded affect is produced on denim pant.

4. Bleaching Powder

Bleach is a chemical that can remove or lighten color, usually by oxidation. The bleaching agent is used to reduce color from garments. Bleaching agents come in two types depending on the constitution. They are:

Chlorine bleach: Chlorine bleach is contain chlorine at different percentage. It activity depend on the percentage of chlorine. Generally, chlorine bleach are two types .i.e. sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite.
Non-chlorine bleach: According to the name, it is easily understand that non-chlorine bleach is not contain chlorine. For example; Sodium perborate or sodium percarbonate.

Bleaching powder may be oxidizing agents or reducing agent. But most of the bleaching powders are oxidizing agent. On the contrary, sodium dithionite is a powerful reducing agent that can be used as a bleaching powder.

Function of bleaching powder

In a denim garment washing plant, bleaching powder is used to take the color out of the garment. Consequently, it create uneven and old looking of garments. By using this process, we can achieve different shades of color on the garment, e.g. Dark, Medium, and Light shades.

5. Sodium Metabisulfite (Na₂S₂O₅)

The compound sodium metabisulfite (also known as sodium pyrosulfite) is an inorganic compound of the chemical formula Na₂S₂O₅. Sometimes, the substance is referred to as disodium. It is mainly used as a disinfectant, antioxidant, and preservative.

Function of metabisulfite

In the garment washing plant, sodium metabisulphite is used in order to neutralize the garments from potassium permanganate. Sometimes, it is used to neutralize cleaning purpose of the garments.

6. Potassium permanganate (KMnO₄)

The potassium permanganate compound, also known as potassium permanganate of potash, is an inorganic compound with the formula KMnO₄. Its molecule consists of potassium ions (K+) and MnO^-4 ions and it is a strong oxidizing agent. When the chemical is dissolved in water, it gives a pink or purple solution that evaporates to leave prismatic black glistening crystals.

Functions of Potassium permanganate (PP)

Potassium permanganate is used in acid wash with Pumic stone for color out from the garments.
It is also used in towel wash.
Potassium permanganate is a strong oxidizing agent and it reduce the color of the garments. Hence, effect is produced on denim pant.
Sometimes, it is spray on garments to create vintage looking

N.B.: We will see the final effect of the garments after neutralizing the garments after applying PP on garments.

7. Acetic Acid (CH₃COOH)

Acetic acid is an organic compound that has the chemical formula CH₃COOH. When undiluted it is also called glacial acetic acid. This liquid is the main ingredient of vinegar and has a distinct sour taste and pungent smell.

Functions of acetic acid

Acetic acid use to control the pH of washing bath.
Sometimes, it is used as cleaning purpose.
It is also used to neutralized the garments from alkaline conditions.

8. Phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄)

A mineral acid containing the chemical formula H₃PO₄, phosphoric acid molecules can combine with one another to form a variety of compounds, all of which are also called phosphoric acids. A phosphoric acid can also refer to a reagent or chemical that contains phosphoric acids, including triphosphoric acid, pyrophosphoric acid, and orthophosphoric acid, but usually orthophosphoric acid.

Functions of phosphoric acid

Phosphoric acid use to control the pH of washing bath in garment washing plant.
It is mixed with PP solution to increase the intensity of PP solution.

9. Sodium Hyposulphite (Na₂S₂O₃.5H₂O)

The colorless crystalline compound sodium thiosulfate is also referred to as sodium thiosulfate or sodium thiosulphate. It is more commonly known as pentahydrate Na₂S₂O₃.5H₂O, which is an efflorescent, monoclinic crystalline compound also known as sodium hyposulfite or “hypo”.

Functions of Sodium hyposulphite

It is used as neutralizing agent in wash bath in case of chlorine bleaching.
It also helps to keep the garments in blue tone.

10. Anti back stain

The wash bath contains some anti back staining agents to prevent such back staining, which will reduce the value of the garments on the global market. In addition to other chemicals associated with the respective washes, these agents are added to the bath to prevent dyes from re-depositing themselves on the garment.

Functions of anti-back stain

It prevents stains from appearing on weft yarn of denim (white yarn), white pockets of garments, levels, and attached fabrics of garments, as well as increases the fabric’s brightness.

11. Caustic Soda (NaOH)

As a strong alkali substance, casustic is composed of sodium hydroxide with the molecular formula NaOH. As an alkali base and alkali salt, sodium hydroxide is (lye) a highly caustic metallic base.

Functions of caustic soda

Caustic soda is used as de-sizing agent.
It is also used as cleaning agent. Because, it has good cleaning power.
It is used to create fading effect or old looking of garments.
Caustic soda is used when need blue tone on the garments.

12. Soda Ash (Na₂CO₃)

The sodium salt of carbonic acid is sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃). It is commonly found as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white solid, sodium carbonate monohydrate.

Functions of soda ash

Soda ash has a cleaning power and help color fading affect of garment.
It is used also for color fixing in dye bath.
Soda ash is used when need reddish tone on the garments.

13. Sodium bi carbonate (NaHCO₃ )

Sodium bicarbonate is a crystalline white solid that often appears as a fine powder.It has a mildly salty, alkaline taste similar to that of washing soap (sodium carbonate). It is found in its natural form as nahcolite, although it is more commonly found in trona.

Functions of sodium bi carbonate

It is used in garment washing plant in the bleach bath with bleaching powder for denim light shade because easily color out within shot time.

14. Sodium chloride (NaCl)

Sodium chloride has a chemical formula NaCl, which represents a 1:1 ratio of sodium and chloride ions, and is also known as salt, common salt, table salt or halite. Seawater and multicellular organisms contain sodium chloride as their primary salt.

Functions of sodium chloride

It helps to exhaust dye in to the fiber.

15. Biopolishing

Although biopolishing is an acid enzyme, there are a few differences between it and acid enzymes. A buffer solution was used in biopolishing, while an acid enzyme did not. With a buffer solution, the pH remains the same as before. Because of its specific action, this enzyme is widely used to remove pilling from garments surface.

Functions of biopolishing

Biopolishing enzyme is used to prevents pilling.
It is used to remove fuzz tiny strands of fiber from the surface of denim garments.

16. Softening agent

We used softening agents to soften the garments. There are many types of softener, but we mostly used cationic and non-ionic softeners. For color garments, we used cationic softeners, whereas for white garments, we used non-ionic softeners. Softeners work inside the garment cellulose.

Functions of softening agent

Softening agent is used to increase the hand feel of garments.
It is used to make the fabric soft.

17. Silicon

Basically, amino silicon is a modified silicon-based textile finishing agent. In addition to providing durable softness, lubricity, elastic handle, anti-pilling, dimensional stability, tear resistance, and making fabrics easier to cut and sew, it also improves wear and easy care properties. Silicon is used for final finishing of the garments.

Functions of silicon

Silicon is used in garment washing plant to give excellent smoothness, good hand feel and nice durability to the garments.
Silicon increase the silky hand feel of the garments.

18. Buffer

A buffer solution is a solution where the pH does not change significantly when dilution or acid or base is added at a constant temperature. The pH of this solution is remain relatively constant when a small amount of strong acid or alkaline is added to it. In a variety of chemical applications, buffer solutions can be used to maintain the pH at a nearly constant value.

Functions of buffer

Buffer solution is used for the pH control of enzyme baths, softener baths, and de-sizing baths in garment washing plants.

19. Hydrogen peroxide

Peroxide is the simplest of the peroxides. It is also one of the strongest oxidizers. Peroxide is a clear liquid, but a little bit more viscous than water. In dilute solution, it appears colorless.

Functions of hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is good oxidizer and using as bleaching and cleaning agent in garment washing plants.
Sometimes, it is used as a neutralizing agent.

20. Stabilizer

A stabilizer creates a complex compound with a catalyst without reacting with it. This prevents oxygen generation into solution and preserves the strength loss of hydrogen peroxide. However, due to high pH and temperature, decomposition of peroxide bleaching liquor and degradation of cellulose.

Functions of stabilizer

The hydrogen peroxide works well above 90°C. After 90°C, the hydrogen peroxide breaks, so stabilizers are used to protect it from breaking and peroxide works smoothly in the wash bath.

21. Fixing agent

The agent that sets the dyes on fabric is called a fixing agent and is used at the time of garment dyeing or when the color is to be set on fabric.

Functions of fixing agent

Fixing agent is used to improve the color fastness to wash, color fastness to light, and colorfastness to rubbing of washed garments.

22. Optical brighteners

Optical brighteners, optical brightening agents, fluorescent brightening agents, and fluorescent whitening agents are dyes that function by absorbing light in the ultraviolet and violet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, and then re-emitting that light in the blue region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Basic there many types of brighteners include Biphenyl-stilbenes, Triazoles, Diazoles, and Coumarins.

Functions of optical brighteners

Fluorescent optical brighteners are chemical compounds used in garment washing plant to improve the brightness of fabrics.

23. Resin

Resin is a high-efficiency textile resin created by etherifying dimethylol glyoxalin monoureine urea. It is used to create semi-permanent creases in denim, cotton, and polyester fabrics.

Functions of resin

To sustain the 3D effect, resin is sprayed on 3D areas of garments.
Resin is sprayed on the 3D whisker area of denim pants before 3D whiskers are made.

24. Defoaming agent

Defoamers are chemical additives that reduce and hinder foam formation in washing bath.

Functions of defaming agent

When washing machine is running, foam is produce in washing bath. Defoaming agent is used to reduce the foams in washing bath.

25. Sequestering agent

A sequestering agent or chelating agent removes a metal ion from a solution system by forming a complex ion that does not react chemically with the metal ion.

Functions of sequestering agent

Sequestering agent remove the hardness of water.
It helps to well dissolve other chemical in wash bath.

Please watch the video

Video: Chemicals used in garment washing

Conclusion

In conclusion, garment washing job holder can not achieve desired effects on fabrics without clear understanding of the different types of chemicals used in garment washing plant and their function. However, these are details list of garment washing chemical and their function. One can optimize the washing production and ensure high quality production by familiarizing himself or herself with list of chemicals for washing plant and washing chemicals functions. If you have any questions about washing chemicals functions or chemicals for washing plants, feel free to ask me in the below comments box. You can discuss the list of garment washing chemicals and washing chemicals functions with your friends who do job in garment washing plants.

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