Mercerized Cotton

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 14, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 27.

Mercerized Cotton

MERCERIZED cotton was first introduced as a substitute for silk some ten or twelve years ago, altho the process for making it was invented about 1840 by a celebrated English dyer, John Mercer. He discovered that when cotton, either in cloth or yarn, was subjected for a short time to the action of strong caustic alkali, and then thoroly washed, the resulting material was much stronger than before, had shrunk very considerably, and had a much greater affinity for dyestuffs. Mercer patented his discovery and made some use of it in calico printing, but the process was nearly forgotten until, in 1889, it was discovered that by proper treatment cotton could by this means be made so lustrous as to compare not unfavorably with silk.

To make the cotton lustrous, the goods, after dipping into the strong alkali, are kept firmly stretched, and their strong tendency to shrink resisted, until the alkali had been thoroly rinsed off and the last traces neutralized with a little acid. If this is done carefully, when finally dried the cotton fibers will be found drawn out smooth and lustrous, while still retaining their new qualities of strength and increased dyeing power. To get good results in this process the materials treated; whether in yarn or cloth, must be made of the very best and longest stapled cotton, preferably Egyptian, and when well done the results are extremely satisfactory. The luster is not as good as the very best silk, but it is quite well marked, and for replacing the cheap grades of heavily weighed silks, as, for instance, for underwear, linings, etc., the mercerized goods are of very great value, owing to their strength and durability, as well as their cheapness.—The Craftsman.