Wet processing is the process used to convert grey fabric into finished fabric. It involves several key steps: pre-treatment processes like singeing, desizing, scouring, and bleaching are used to clean and prepare the fabric. Then dyeing or printing is used to impart color. Finally, finishing processes are applied to provide specific characteristics. The wet processing of cotton fabric typically involves singeing to remove fuzz, desizing to remove size, scouring to remove natural and added impurities, bleaching to remove natural color, and optional mercerization to improve luster before dyeing and finishing.

1. Introduction to Wet
Processing OF COTTON
FABRIC
By: Deepati Singh

2. Textile Flow Chart
FIBRE
YARN
FABRIC
SPINNING
WEAVING/KNITTING
NON-WOVEN

3. FABRIC
• Fabric is made either by interlacement of at
least 2 sets of yarns(eg. Woven Fabric) or
inter-looping of at least single set of yarn(eg.
Knitted fabric) or Directly by binding fibres
together by suitable methods(eg. Non-Woven
Fabric)
• The raw fabric that is made by the processes
mentioned above is known as Greige Fabric or
Grey Fabric

4. GREY FABRIC
• Grey Fabric: The term does not indicate the color
of the fabric but the finish.
• This fabric might have stains, discoloration and
other undesirable characteristics
• It is treated with various chemicals under pre
determined conditions to improve its
functionality as well as aesthetics
• The types of processes carried out depends
mainly on the type of fabric (raw material used-
Natural/Synthetic)

5. WET PROCESSING
• The processes that are carried out to convert grey
fabric to finished fabric is known as Wet
Processing because these are generally carried
out in aqueous medium
• These are mainly characterized as pre- treatment
processes, coloring process and finishing
processes
• Pre-treatments carried out for cotton fabric are
different than the fabrics made of synthetic fibres

6. CHEMICAL TREATMENT- OVERVIEW
• Impurities are present
Raw Material
• Remove impurities and prepare the
fabric for further processes
Pre Treatment
• Imparts Colors by Dyeing/Printing
Coloration
• Imparts specific characteristics
Finishing

7. SINGEING
DESIZING
SCOURING
BLEACHING
MERCERIZATION
DYEING
PRINTING
FINISHING
GREY FABRIC FINISHED FABRIC
WET PROCESSING FLOW CHART -COTTON

8. SINGEING
• Singeing is the first step of pretreatment
• Singe means ‘to burn something superficially
or lightly’
• It is the process of removal of protruding
fibres, yarn ends or fuzz from the surface of
the fabric
• This process can also be applied to yarns
• End result of singeing is an even surface, free
from fuzz

9. DESIZING
• Size(mainly starch and wax) is applied on the
warp yarns to make it strong enough to
withstand the tensions of loom
• Desizing is the process of removal of added
(eg. starch) as well as other natural impurities
from the fabric
• It improves the absorbency and lustre of the
fabric and prepares the fabric for further
processes

10. SCOURING
• Scouring is a purifying treatment and make the
fabric hydrophilic
• It is also known as kiering or kier boiling
• It is the process by which natural (oil, wax, gum,
fat etc) as well as added (during fabrication
process) impurities are removed completely as
possible.
• It makes the textile materials highly absorptive
without undergoing chemical or physical damage
significantly.

11. BLEACHING
• The objective of bleaching is to remove the
natural color for the following steps such as
dyeing or printing or to achieve full white.
• It is usually carried out by means of chemicals
selected according to the chemical
composition of the fibre.
• The process of bleaching gives the sparkling
whiteness to the fabric and make it suitable
for further processing.

12. MERCERIZATION
• Mercerization is one of the most important
process carried out for cotton and other
cellulosic fibres
• The fabric is treated with concentrated solution
of sodium hydroxide which results in swelling
and make the cross-sectional area round, hence
improving the lustre and absorbency
• It results in improvement of lustre, strength and
hand of the fabric

13. DYEING
• Dyeing is the process of imparting color to textile
material
• It can be carried out at any stage (Fibre/Yarn/
Fabric/End product)
• Dyes are selected on the basis of the raw
material of textile products
• Different fibres have different affinity towards
specific dyes
• Dye fastness is an important parameter for
selecting a specific dye

14. PRINTING
• Textile printing is the process of applying color
to fabric in definite patterns or designs
• Printing is mainly done on the face of the
fabric
• In printing, wooden blocks, stencils, engraved
plates, rollers, or silkscreens can be used to
place colours on the fabric.

15. FINISHING
• Finishing is any process performed after
dyeing the yarn or fabric to improve the look,
performance, or hand (feel) of the finish
textile or clothing
• It can be done by using chemicals or by
mechanical means
• It adds specific aesthetic and technical
qualities to each fabric

16. YARN FABRIC DYEING FINISHING
FIBRE SIZED YARN PRE-TREATMENT PRINTING GARMENT
SUMMARY