Improvements in Treating or Mercerising Yarns or Fabrics of Cotton and other Fibres to Impart a Silky or Lustrous Appearance thereto.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application 10th May 1898
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treating or Mercerising Yarns or Fabrics of Cotton
and other Fibres to Impart a Silky or Lustrous Appearance
thereto.
I, WILLIAM HALL, of Monsal Villa, Newton Heath, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Dyer and Bleacher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows;-
==
This invention relates to improvements in the treatment of yarns or fabrics of
cotton or other fibres to render them silky, glossy or lustrous, known as mercer-
ising, and is designed to provide a better and more level or even finish than has
hitherto been the case.
I find that by treating the yarn with a strong acid immediately after treatment,
with the mercerising solution and before washing that better results are obtainable."
My invention therefore consists in the method or process of treatment of the
yarn or fabric which comprises treating it with a strong solution of a caustic
alkali and with a strong acid solution and subsequently washing whilst the material
is maintained in a stretched condition.
In carrying out the invention as applied to yarn in the hank the yarn after having
been boiled is stretched on a suitable frame or reel preferably whilst still wet and
is then immersed for the desired length of time in a bath of strong caustic soda or
potash (or other alkaline mercerising agent) and when removed from this bath is
immersed in a bath of strong sulphuric acid (or other suitable acid) until the soda
or other alkali saturating the fibre is completely neutralized. The hanks whilst
still in the stretching frame are then washed and are subsequently dried.
Dated this 9th day of May 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
GUMI UMIESPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treating or Mercerising Yarns or Fabrics of Cotton
and other Fibres to Impart a Silky or Lustrous Appearance
thereto.
I, WILLIAM HALL, of Monsal Villa, Newton Heath, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Dyer and Bleacher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in the treatment of yarns or fabrics of
cotton or other fibres to render them silky, glossy or lustrous, generally known by

page_text: the term "mercerizing," and is designed to provide a better or more level or even
finish than has hitherto been the case.
I find that by treating the yarn with a strong acid immediately after treatment
with the mercerizing solution and before washing that better results are obtainable.
My invention therefore consists in the method or process of treatment of the
yarn or fabric whilst stretched which comprises treating it with a strong solution
of a caustic alkali and with a strong acid solution. and subsequently washing
whilst the material is maintained in a stretched condition.
In carrying out the invention as applied to yarn in the hank the yarn is first
boiled in kiers in the usual way as if for dyeing and then washed and wrung dry
(so as not to contain too much moisture to weaken the caustic liquor) and is then
placed on a suitable frame or reel the threads being laid straight and stretched by
a screw or other stretching device.
A suitable apparatus for the purpose is described in the Specification of my
concurrent patent No. 10709 of 1898. It is to be understood that any other known
or suitable apparatus may be employed for the purpose.
It is then let down and immersed or partially immersed in a strong solution.
of caustic alkali preferably soda (or other alkaline mercerizing agent). The
strength of the caustic soda solution may vary from 60 to 1000 Twaddle. The
fibre is immersed or passed through the caustic solution until thoroughly saturated
being preferably retained stretched during the operation. The operation may be
continued from one to ten minutes or more according to the nature of the fibre
and the strength of the solution.
After removal from the caustic soda solution the yarn is immersed or passed
through a solution of strong sulphuric acid (or other suitable acid) of a strength
of about 8° to 12° Twaddle until the alkali retained in the fibre is completely
neutralized. The operation may be continued from one to ten minutes or more
according to the nature of the fibre and the strength of the solution. The yarn is
preferably still maintained in the stretched condition during this second operation.
The yarn after removal from the acid bath is immersed or passed through a bath
or trough of water preferably while still stretched to remove or wash out the acid.
Subsequently the yarn is removed from the stretching rollers and well washed
in cold water in the usual way and dried and then dyed or finished in any desired
way according to the use to which it is intended to be applied.
It is to be understood that the stretching is to be applied to either or all of the
operations I at present consider it best to maintain the stretched condition through-
out the process.
Although the process is described as applied to yarn in the hank it may also be
applied to fabrics in a stretching machine of any suitable construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be described I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The treatment or mercerizing of yarns or fabrics to produce a silky lustre or
appearance which consists in treating them with a strong alkaline solution then
with a strong acid solution and subsequently washing with water maintaining it
stretched during any or all of the operations substantially as described.
2. The process of lustring or glossing yarn or fabric substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of February 1800
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool & London, Patent Agents.