Mercerized Egyptian cotton: properties, advantages and disadvantages

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Egyptian cotton is considered the best in the world. And this is not surprising, because high-quality natural ingredients, exclusively natural dyes are used for its manufacture. Cotton yarn is an excellent choice for crafters who need to use environmentally friendly, safe materials.

What is the process of mercerizing cotton?

Not all varieties of cotton are suitable for mercerization. To obtain a high quality fabric, the source material must be of exceptional quality. Therefore, the procedure is mainly subjected to long-staple elite cotton.

Egyptian cotton is mercerized as follows:

1. Threads of material are soaked in a weak solution of caustic soda. The progress of the process is controlled by automated systems that track the performance of the material as it is processed. As a result, Egyptian cotton gains the ability to dye and becomes more durable.
2. At the next stage, the threads are bleached, which allows you to neutralizeaction of an alkaline-hydrogen solution. Next, the cotton yarn is dyed. Thus, the threads acquire a durable and rich color.
3. 100% cotton is fired with gas burners. Thus, the threads acquire a cylindrical shape, their level of hairiness is reduced, the material acquires smoothness and an attractive sheen.

Material properties

Egyptian cotton is mercerized to remove the natural bouffant, resulting in shiny, smooth threads. Therefore, one of the main advantages of the material is the resemblance to silk.

Products made from mercerized cotton are extremely durable and at the same time have a pliable, soft texture. Such fabric does not fade in the sun and does not change color in bright light. The material is difficult to deform or tear during washing.

Due to the high level of hygroscopicity, mercerized cotton fabrics are pleasant to the touch, excellent when worn, and do not cause irritation when in contact with the skin.

Flaws

The disadvantages of mercerized cotton fabric include the appearance of the effect of shrinkage of things after washing. In addition, such products dry for a long time.

Cotton yarn cannot be called elastic. Therefore, it is recommended to use it for the manufacture of fabrics that are uniform in structure, or things with openwork patterns.

The shortcomings of natural cotton yarn are corrected by adding acrylic, viscose, polyester to the structure of the materialfibers. In this way, truly light, durable fabrics are obtained.

How to identify Egyptian mercerized cotton?

When choosing a yarn, it is extremely important to distinguish the material that has undergone special processing from ordinary cotton. After all, there are often high-quality fakes on the market. To identify mercerized Egyptian cotton, use the following steps:

1. When checking the yarn, pull the thread out of the skein and set it on fire. The latter should burn without residue. At the same time, the smell will remind you of burnt paper.
2. Crumple up a cotton cloth, holding it in your hand for a few seconds. If the material is heavily wrinkled, it is not true mercerized cotton.
3. Run your hand over the surface of the material. Standard cotton will leave a rough feeling. Mercerized fabric will be smooth.

As an additional factor, according to which it is possible to determine the original material, its color acts. Mercerized yarn has bright, rich colors.

Ultimately, Egyptian cotton, which has undergone a special chemical treatment, is an order of magnitude more expensive than conventional material. Mercerization itself is an expensive procedure. And Egyptian cotton itself is more expensive, since its fibers are longer than conventional varieties.

In closing

Despite the rather high price, buying yarn in the form of Egyptian mercerized cotton is a good financial investment. Finished products from the presentedmaterial will amaze with its stable color, silky, smooth structure, excellent moisture permeability.