Patent ID: 6051414
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: D06L,D06M

Abstract:
A process for manufacturing a cellulosic fabric, comprising(a) a treatment of an initial cellulosic fabric with a cellulytic enzyme, essentially without any mechanical treatment to yield a first stage fabric; and(b) a mechanical treatment of the first stage fabric after the cellulase treatment to yield a second stage fabric; where the process is continuous; where the mechanical treatment is selected from the group consisting of tumbling the first stage fabric, passing the first stage fabric over rollers, passing the first stage fabric over cylinders, pulling the first stage fabric, tugging the first stage fabric, stretching the first stage fabric, blasting the first stage fabric, sparging the first stage fabric, or any combination of any of the foregoing; and where the second stage fabric has less fuzz, less pilling, more gloss/luster, increased fabric handle, increased desirable softness, and the same or greater fabric wettability than the initial fabric.