Mercerising Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions buyers ask most often about Mercerising.
What does it mean?
caustic treatment of cotton to add lustre. Working figures for Mercerising normally sit around mainly cotton fabrics in mainstream production. Note mill process control on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
What value should be specified?
Start from mainly cotton fabrics and adjust for the end use of the garment. Record elastane content alongside Mercerising, because blends shift the measured value. A result outside mainly cotton fabrics usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
How is it tested?
mill process control. Keeping reference values for Mercerising lets suppliers quote without extra sampling rounds. Ask for conditioning details together with mill process control, since both affect the reading.
Why does it change between lots?
Process variables such as finishing temperature and elastane batch cause the normal spread of results. Working figures for Mercerising normally sit around mainly cotton fabrics in mainstream production. Note mill process control on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Can results be compared across suppliers?
Only when the same standard revision and conditioning are used; otherwise measurements are not equivalent. Record elastane content alongside Mercerising, because blends shift the measured value. A result outside mainly cotton fabrics usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
