Wollo university kombolcha institutes of techno2nd material

assessment for business plan

List of Garment Washing Chemicals and Their Functions

Introduction
In garments washing plant there are a lot of chemicals are used for various purposes.
These garment washing chemicals are available in market by their own name or trade
names introduced by distinguish chemical manufacturing company. The main aim is to
find out the function of the different garment washing chemicals and auxiliaries which
are strongly related to the garments washing.

List of Chemicals Used in Garment Washing Plant and

Their Functions
Chemicals name which are used in garment washing plant.

1. Enzyme
 2. Acetic acid [CH3-COOH]
3. Detergent
4. Ant staining agent
5. Bleaching powder [Ca(OCl)CL]
6. Sodium hyposulfite [Na2S2O2]
7. Caustic soda [NaOH]
8. Soda ash [Na2CO3]
9. Sodium bicarbonate [NaHCO3]
10. Potassium permanganate [KMnO4]
11. Cationic/ nonionic flax softener
12. Micro emulsion silicon
13. Salt
14. Buffer
15. Hydrogen peroxide [H202]
16. Stabilizer
17. Fixing agent
18. Optical brightener
19. Resin

You may also like: List of Denim Washing Chemicals and Their Functions

Functions of Garment Washing Chemicals

1. Anti-staining Agent
A mixture of special macromolecules and surfactants, especially for anti-back staining
during desizing and washing in denim rinsing. The basic problem in enzymatic washing
of denim is back- staining of detached indigo dyes on fabric surface. Hence, it reduces
the contrast effect/fading effect, which garment washer want to produce on denim.

Fig: Anti-staining Agent

Properties:
  Appearance: pale yellow flow liquid
 Ion: nonionic
 Solubility: soluble in cold and hot water…
 Classification: Chemical Auxiliary Agent Functions and advantages:
 Has good emulsifying, dispersing and absorbing ability for indigo dyes, can prevent
indigo back staining and improve color contrast and fabric brilliance.
 Can improve color fastness after stone washing.
 Be used with enzyme or used general washing process, improve effect of washing.
 Be high concentrated, dilute it before using, stable diluted solution, easily used.

FOB Price: US $1.4-1.8 / Kilogram

2. Potassium Permanganate
After desizing it is sprayed in garments area, It helps for color out from garment during
Enzyme wash. Potassium permanganate (KMnO4 + H3PO4 + H2O) solution applied or
stray on the garments so oxidizes the cellulose & color is partially removed according to
the intensity and solution.

Fi
g: Potassium Permanganate

The process of acid washing jeans used chemicals, stripping off the color of the top layer,
leaving the white fabric exposed. The color remained in the lower layers of the material,
giving it a faded look. Acid washing could be done overall or made to look splotchy
treated with potassium permanganate.

Any time we mess with chemicals such as bleach or chlorine or PP, be sure to protect
workers by wearing mask & aprons, so it is best to be fully prepared. Also, protective
rubber gloves and safety glasses are highly recommended. These products can burn skin
and eyes pretty badly.
Functions of Potassium permanganate:

 After PP Spray and PP Sponging need to neutralize the garment per sodium
metasulphite, then whitish effect come on respective area of garments.
 Stock solution is 5% i.e. 40-liter water 200 gm. potassium permanganate &
phosphoric acid.
 PP Spray is done by nozzle and has a switch to start & stop.
 For Spray on garments need dry air which is supplied from screw compressor and PP
stock solution tank.
 PP Sponging is done manually.
 By foam / fabric pcs wet in PP stock solution and rubbing particular area of garment
by hand as a result fading effects on garments.

FOB Price: US $1000-2000 / Metric Ton

Origin: China

3. Caustic soda (NaOH)

Caustic soda is a deliquescent white crystalline solid, which readily absorbs moisture and
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It is used for mercerizing cotton.
Fig: Caustic soda

Function of caustic soda

 Caustic is the strong alkali used in garments washing to introduce an alkaline
condition.
 Caustic created the role in bleach technique without color change the garments.
 Caustic has a cleaning power which is more powerful than soda Ash.
 Fading affect/old looking affect come rapidly on garments by the action of caustic
soda.

FOB Price: US $510-520 / Metric Ton

4. SODA ASH (Na2CO3)

Sodium carbonate is a white crystalline solid containing water of crystallization. It is used
in laundry as washing soda. It is also used for softening water.

Fig: Soda Ash

Function of soda ash:

 Soda ash created alkaline medium for the breakdown of pigment dye.
 It has a cleaning power.
 It has also help color fading effect of garments.
FOB Price: US $190-195 / Metric Ton

5. Detergent
Detergent is used to remove impurities from the Garment fabric surfaces and temperature
helps detergent to enhance its action. It is the mostly used chemicals in garment washing
plant. During coming these impurities, some pigment will be washed out from the
pigment dyed or printed area of the garments. As a result fading affect will be developed.

Fig: Detergents

The simplest way to inactivate any detergents left in the fabric is to neutralize the pH to
between 6.5 and 7.5 through addition of a small amount of acetic acid. Through this
method, the activity of the alkali and surfactants is eliminated.

For fabrics with a high content of synthetic fibers it may be necessary to add small
amounts of cationic surfactants that can neutralize the charges of anionic surfactants and
thus prevent static electricity. Using non-ionic or amphoteric surfactants normally makes
such additions unnecessary.

Sometimes the fabric softeners also include small amounts of perfume to provide a
pleasant scent.

FOB Price: US $1-2 / Piece

Place of Origin: CN ZHE

Powder Detergent
 FOB Price: US $450-1350 / Metric Ton
 Package: 1kg
 Type: Detergent in powder form

Liquid detergent

 FOB Price: US $1-2 / Piece

Super-cleaning fragrant washing powder

 FOB Price: US $350-700 / Metric Ton

 Super-cleaning fragrant washing powder this powder contains a super cleaning gene
that dissolves easily and is soft on garments…
 Type: Detergent

6. Acetic Acid (CH3COOH)

Acetic acid is a colorless and corrosive liquid with pungent smell of its own. It is
miscible with water, alcohol and ether in all proportions. Acetic acid is used in garment
industry for dyeing purposes.
 Fig: Acetic Acid
Acetic acid is a weak organic acid – the key ingredient in vinegar. It is readily degradable
and has no adverse effects in the environment except for the use of oxygen for
degradation. It is also readily degradable under anaerobic conditions.

FOB Price: US $800-810 / Ton

Function of acetic acid:

 Acetic Acid is used to neutralize the garment from alkaline condition and to control
the pH value in wash bath.
 Acetic acid is not a fabric softener in principle but is often used for this purpose in
professional laundries.4
 Acetic Acid is used in Enzyme bath
 Acetic acid has to be stored and handled with care
7. Sodium Metabisulfite
Sodium metabisulfite is an inorganic compound composed of sodium, sulfur and oxygen.
Its chemical formula is Na2S2O5. It typically comes in a white, or yellowish-white
crystalline powder. It easily dissolves in water, which leaves that familiar sulfur (rotten
egg) smell.

Fig: Sodium Metabisulfite FOB Price: US $300-350 / Metric Ton

Function of sodium Meta bi sulphite:

1. Sodium metabisulfite is used as a bleaching agent in pulp and textile manufacture, as

well as a reducing agent .
2. Sodium metabisulphite is used in the washing plant to neutralize the garment from
potassium permanganate.

8. Pumice Stone
Fig: Pumice Stone

Properties of pumice stone:

 When the impurities amount will be 10% of a pumice stone its density increases to 1
gm/cm3. Then the stone will not float.
 Alternative of pumice stone: Synthetic Stone
 Stone wt. /fabric wt. = 0.5 to 3 /1
 Dia. of stone-1-7 cm
 Moisture content-less than 5%
 Surface properties-less than 5% fines
 Apparent Density-0.5-0.75gm/cm3
 Abrasion loss-35%
 Large, hard stones last longer and may be suited for heavy weight fabrics only.
 Smaller, softer stones would be used for light weight fabrics and more delicate items.

FOB Price: US $0.1-0.5 / Piece

9. Softener

Fig: Softener

Function of softener:

 The purpose of adding ‘fabric softeners’ at the end of the washing process is to
neutralize the very small amounts of detergents left in the textiles and thus prevent
static electricity.
 Another main function of the softener is creating softer handle over the garments, it
is obtained because when softener is applied on the garments then the each and every
treads tends to slip over another.
 Softener is used to make the garments treated textiles is surface feel that is bath
sickly and soft and also provides excellent lubricating properties.

FOB Price: US $1-5 / Kilogram;

Name: China mainland

10. Enzyme
The trend today is towards garment processing. This is because garment processing offers
the processor better and more varied opportunities to add value to the garments in terms
of fashionable looks as well as feel. In such a fast changing scenario, Enzymes are
playing an important role. Enzymes are one of the mostly used chemicals in garment
washing.

Fig: Enzyme

Functions of Enzyme:
 Residual hydrogen peroxide must be removed from the fabric after bleaching
treatments, which would otherwise be detrimental to subsequent processing.
Catalyze enzymes can be used to work specifically on residual peroxide as an anti-
oxidant breaking it down into natural elements of water and oxygen without
adversely affecting the fibers or dyes.
 Develop ‘’Bio-polishing’’ effect on denim in echo-friendly way
  Enzyme improves the ‘’Anti-pilling’’ properties.
 It attacks more the surface of the fabrics and gives a very smooth surface.
 It increases the color fastness and rubbing fastness properties.
 Achieve high-low abrasion to produce fading effect in sewing area. 2
 It just hydrolysis the cellulose, first it attacks the projecting fiber then the yarn
portion inside fabric and faded affect is produced.
 It reduces GSM of the garment.
 Neutral enzyme is used for Dark shade enzyme wash because it comes fading effect
slowly.
 It produces buyer loving soft feel in use.
 Acid enzyme is used for medium /light shade Enzyme wash of denim skirt because it
comes enzyme effect quickly than neutral enzyme.

Textile Enzyme for Jean N1000

 FOB Price: US $3.5-4.0 / Kilogram

Neutral cellulose

 FOB Price: US $1-10 / Kilogram

 Type: Liquid Cellulase Enzyme

Bio polish Enzyme for T-shirt

 FOB Price: US $1.45-1.50 / Kilogram

 High and stable activity
 PH: 4.5-6.0
 Reducing fuzzy and pilling
 Dosage: 0.3-0.5g/L…
 Classification: Chemical Auxiliary Agent

Cellulose Enzyme

 FOB Price: US $10-30 / Kilogram

11. Bleaching Powder

Color is produced by molecules which contain chromophores and bleach works upon
these molecules to achieve the whitening effect. Oxidizing bleach breaks down the
molecules with chromophores and make them incapable of absorbing any visible light,
while reducing bleach converts the double-bonded chromophore to single-bonded, thus
making them incapable of absorbing visible light. The same principle is behind the
bleaching action of sunlight. The high energy photons of light affects the bonds of
chromophores, which in turn results in the gradual fading of color.

ig: Bleaching Powder

FOB Price: US $300-320 / Metric Ton

Bleaching Clothes in Washing Machine

Bleach helps white clothes to retain their original color time and again. Knowing exactly
how the bleach works and what are its active ingredients is very useful. When it comes
to bleaching clothes white, there are many things that must be considered, first and
foremost is the safety. Bleach can cause harm equally to both clothes and your hands. If
chlorine bleaches are combined with ammonia and such chemicals, then that can cause
extremely harmful and toxic effects. Hence, to avoid side effects of bleach on your hands,
you can start doing it in the washing machine.

There are two basic types of bleaches, namely chlorine bleach and non-chlorine bleach
and both are equally good. It is important to make sure that the color and type of the
fabric that you want to bleach white in washing machine can sustain bleach. It is also
important to find out whether the water in which bleaching will be performed is reacting
well with the bleach you are using. If you are sure of these two things, then bleaching
clothes in the washing machine is very easy
12. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide creates the prime role in bleach wash technique. In alkaline medium,
hydrogen peroxide breaks up and gives some perhydroxhylion, which discolor the
coloring materials and as a result fading effect is developed. Hydrogen peroxide is used
in scouring, bleaching bath for white/ready for dyeing of gray fabric garments. It is used
also neutralized the garment from alkaline condition.

Fi
g: Hydrogen Peroxide FOB Price: US $400-550 / Ton.

Function of Hydrogen Peroxide

A. Hydrogen peroxide is created in the atmosphere when ultraviolet rays from the sun hit
oxygen in the presence of moisture. It is basically the same chemical make up as water
but with an extra oxygen atom. Because of this it breaks down quickly and harmlessly
into oxygen and water.

B. Hydrogen peroxide has antibacterial and antiviral qualities and is a strong bleach. The
most common form is three to six percent hydrogen peroxide solution and this works best
in the home as an all-purpose cleaner.
  Antibacterial
 Antifungal
 Kills mold
 Kills mildew

13. Silicone Softener

Among different chemicals this is widely used in garment washing process. While many
people rely on their favorite fabric softener to reduce static cling, soften their laundry and
make ironing easier, they rarely stop to think about the science behind softening fabric.
They were first devised in the early 1900s as a way to reduce the stiff, rough feeling of
newly dyed cotton fabric. Early “cotton softeners” were developed using water, soap and
oil — the oils most often used being corn, olive, and tallow.

Fig: Silicone Softener

Clothing manufacturers and consumers began to see the value in fabric softeners, and an
industry was born. Products like these have evolved to meet additional consumer needs,
with the addition of fresh scents, dyes and the ability to reduce wrinkles, make ironing
easier, and added stain protection.

The typical product contains chemicals and additives to make the fabric soft and static
free. Traditionally, the chemicals deposit themselves onto the fabric, but recent formulas
use technology that allows the fabric softener to actually penetrate the fabric. This
improves the absorption of the fabric, which in the past has been compromised by use of
these products.

FOB Price: US $2.0-2.2 / Kilogram

Sulfanine DM

 Specialty softener, which imparts softness with a wet feel with body.
 Silicone micro emulsion, gives excellent inner softness and silky touch to the all type
of fabric.

14. Optical Brightener:

Mainly optical brightener is used for improve the brightness of garments. Two types of optical
brightener are used in the washing plant –

 Red brightener
 Blue brightener

Fig: Optical Brightener (blue)

1. https://textilelearner.net/typical-list-of-chemicals-used-in-dyeing-mill/
2. http://garmentec.blogspot.com
3. http://www.textilecollection.blogspot.com/2012/02/normal-washpigment-
washcaustic-wash.html
4. http://www.indiamart.com/vijayshree-chemicals/powder-chemicals.html
5. http://texpedia.org/index.php?
option=com_easyblog&view=tags&layout=tag&id=319&Itemid