List of Chemicals Used in Garment Washing.

Introduction:

Apparel washing is one of the important key point to the buyers for attracting the customers in their products. After washing the garments, its look like too much pretty, which attract the customers. Ingarments washing, a lot of chemicals used to complete the whole processes. Those chemicals have discussed in this article with their functions.

List of Chemicals Used in Laundry:

Various types of chemicals used in garments washing are mentioned in the following:

1. Whitening agent,
2. Wetting agent,
3. Detergent silicon,
4. Hygroscopic agent,
5. Fixing agent,
6. Softening agent,
7. Defoaming agent,
8. Silicon,
9. Rubbing fastness improvers,
10. Sequestering agent,
11. Meta by sulphite,
12. Weight giving agent,
13. Water proofing agent,
14. Enzyme,
15. Acid enzyme,
16. Neutral enzyme,
17. Stiffering agent,
18. Bleaching agent,
19. Chlorine bleach,
20. Calcium hypochlorite,
21. Sodium hypochlorite,
22. Hydrogen peroxide,
23. Anti-back-stain,
24. Caustic,
25. Potash,
26. Soda,
27. Acetic acid,
28. Lakage,
29. Phosphoric acid,
30. Hypo,
31. Ant mildew agent,
32. Biopolishing.

Functions of Washing Chemical:

Functions of each chemical have discussed in the below:

1. Whitening agent:

The chemicals which is used for more whitening the garments is called whitening agent. Basically we use this chemical in garments washing for white garments to achieve more whiteness like optical brightener, 4bk etc.

2. Wetting agent:

The agent which is used to increase the wet property in the garments is called wetting agent. We use this chemical in the washing bath to proper wet the garments so that washing chemicals can easily used and work properly. Example: lissapo.

3. Detergent silicon:

Detergents are that chemical which removes the stain from the garments during washing. There are many types of detergents such as acidic detergent and alkali detergent.

4. Hygroscopic agent:

The agent which can easily absorb water from the nature is called hygroscopic agent. When the environment is very weighty that time we use these types of agent to avoid the excessive moisture from the garments. Example: calcium chloride, amylo pectin etc.

5. Fixing agent:

The agent which is used for fixing the dyes with the fabric is called fixing agent. In case of garments dyeing we use this agent after completing dyeing.

6. Softening agent:

This types of chemicals is used in garments washing for softening the garments which is widely used in garments washing sector. Because hand feel is a great factor in garments washing. There are different types of softening chemicals used in in garments washing. Among those cat-ionic and non ionic softener is mostly used. In case of color garments we use cat-ionic softener and for white garments we use non ionic softener. Softeners are working inside the garments cellulose.

7. De foaming agent:

The agent which is used in garments washing for reducing foaming from the garments is called de-foaming agent. When excessive foam is produced at dyeing or washing bath then we use this chemical.

8. Silicon:

It is used for final finishing the garments. Silicon provides excellent smoothness; nice durability and good hand feel to the garments. Silicon is one kinds of metal but it has high lubricant properties.

9. Rubbing fastness improvers:

Rubbing fastness will increase after using these types of washing chemical.

10. Sequestering agent:

It is used in garments washing for processing the calcium and magnesium ions which dissolve in the water. These ions are creating obstacles in wet processing causing pin hole effect.

11. Meta by sulphite:

It is a neutralization agent which is used in garments washing for oxidizing the garments. After using potash and bleach in the garments, we used this agent to neutral those. It helps to achieve reddish tone in the garments.

12. Weight giving agent:

The chemical which increase the weight of the fabric is called weight giving agent. This types of agent attached with the garments which will not remove by normal washing or laundry.

13. Water proofing agent:

The chemical which is used in garments washing for protecting water absorbing is called water absorbing agent. Example: PVC.

14. Enzyme:

Enzymes are used as cleaning products such as cleaning and fabric care agent. Most of the enzymes break down soils and stains.

15. Acid enzyme:

Acid enzyme works at acidic medium that means when water at acidic condition (PH range 5-5.5) and comparatively at low temperature (45-50°C). We have to control this enzyme activity by checking PH of washing bath by adding acid or basic. In garments washing bath, we select the enzyme based on the garments shade. This enzyme is available in liquid form.

16. Neutral enzyme:

Neutral enzyme works at neutral condition that means when water at (PH 6.5-7) and comparatively at high temperature (55-60°C). Here also we have to control the enzyme activity by checking the PH of washing bath by adding acid or basic. These enzymes are available in powder form.

17. Stiffering agent:

This type of chemical is used in garments washing for stiff or hardness of garments. Example: resin, silicate and melamine.

18. Bleaching agent:

Bleaching agent is used in garments washing for reducing color from the garments. It has various using at others industries also. Based on construction, bleach is two types, chlorine and non chlorine beach.

19. Chlorine bleach:

Chlorine bleach contains chlorine at different percentage. Its activity depends on the chlorine percentage. Chlorine bleach are also two types i.e. sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite.

20. Calcium hypochlorite:

Calcium chloride is one kinds of chlorine bleach. The basic difference between sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite is that sodium hypochlorite is liquid and calcium hypochlorite is powder. Powder form is easy to handle and transport. It is widely used washing chemical for water treatment. The chemical is greater availability and stability than sodium hypochlorite.

21. Sodium hypochlorite:

Its chemical formula is NaOCl. I is produced by the reaction of sodium hydroxide and chlorine gas.

22. Hydrogen peroxide:

It is widely used in garments washing. It is good oxidizer and used as bleaching and cleaning agent. Sometimes it is used as a neutralizing agent. It is also high flammability.

23. Anti-back-stain:

In garments washing, anti-back-stain helps to protect back staining from water. In the bulk wash we have to use different chemicals and for the affect of chemicals color is washed out from the garments. Those colors may again back to the garments specially at pocket area. To protect those colors anti back satin is used.

24. Caustic:

It is a strong alkali substance, also a cleaning agent. In garments washing bath, we have to use this for removing color and cleaning. After using this chemical PH value will increase. It is also used as de-sizing agent.

25. Potash:

Potash is a strong oxidizer. Mainly wee used this chemical in garments washing to reduce the color from the sitting and local area that area previously scrapped. Its chemical name is potassium per manganate. Its color is reddish. We used this chemical in garments washing by mixing with the water and making a solution. After making solution then spray on the garments.

26. Soda:

It is also an alkali type substance which is used to remove color. Its PH also higher. We used this chemical for de-sizing, cleaning and scouring agent. Both caustic and soda is same but soda is used for achieving reddish tone and caustic is used for blue tone.

27. Acetic acid:

It is one kinds of acid which has various uses at garments washing plant. We used this chemical to control PH and cleaning purpose.

28. Leakage:

It is one kinds of enzyme which is used in garments washing for achieving gray cast color. It is in powder form. It is special types of enzyme. When the garments showing too much blue but need reddish or gray tone that time we used leakage enzyme.

29. Phosphoric acid:

It is one kinds of acid which is specially used for active the oxidizer. It is used in the mixture of potash. If we add phosphoric acid in the potash solution then potash will be more active.

30. Hypo:

It is a strong neutralizing agent. After using any oxidizer we used this chemical to neutralize the garments. It is used for achieving blue tone in the garments.

31. Ant mildew agent:

The chemical which protect the garments from mold and mildew is called anti mildew agent. Example: Zinc chloride.

32. Bio-polishing:

It is one kinds of acid enzyme. But there is little different from acid enzyme. In bio-polishing, there was buffer solution but acid enzyme no buffer solution. In case of buffer solution, PH remains same as earlier. This types of chemical is used in garments washing for removing brush for its special action. After using bio-polishing, garments achieved more softness.