Singeing and Desizing

Singeing and desizing are frequently combined. Singeing removes protruding ends of fibers in order to produce a clear, smooth and uniform surface. Desizing removes chemicals applied before weaving. When combined with singeing it prevents possible latent damage to the fabric from the singeing flames or heated plates. Woven fabrics of natural fibers, blends of natural fibers and man -made fibers and some man-made fiber fabrics may be singed.

A typical operation includes the following steps:

1) Fabrics is operation to full width and fed to the singer at a speed necessary to prevent fabric damage.

2) Fabric surface may be brushed lightly to raise unwanted fiber ends so that they will be singed more easily.

3) Fabric enters singeing area. Fabric is kept flat, free of wrinkles or creases, selvages are prevented from curling.

4) Fabric enters a desize bath, where water stops any singeing afterglow that might damage the cloth, and desize enzymes saturate the fabric. Enzymes and detergents loosen sizing applied to prevent damage during weaving.

5) Fabric moves through the singeing and desizing bath at 230-270 yards (210-247m)per minute.