Starch Layer
Starch application forms the protective film applied to single yarn strands before loom insertion in Chinese textile operations. Mechanical abrasion during shedding threatens fragile bast fibres on high speed projectile machinery, so sizing prevents filament breakage by binding loose protruding hairs down to the core. Polyvinyl alcohol and modified potato starches mix in heated cooking vessels to achieve optimal viscosity before the mixture enters the immersion trough.
Jiangsu mills record these preparation parameters on daily sizing sheets attached to production logs for internal traceability.
Tensile Reinforcement
Maximum breaking load increases significantly when dry starch penetrates the cortex of the yarn during high pressure cylinder squeezing. Residual moisture must remain strictly controlled between seven and eight percent after drying to prevent both brittleness and fungal growth in humid workshop environments. Quality inspectors verify this mechanical integrity through grab tests on sampled yarn lengths pulled directly from the weaver beam before style clearance.
Buyer acceptance thresholds require higher tensile gains than routine mill standards demand, establishing a clear separation between internal operational targets and contractual export grades.
Surface Uniformity
Smooth filament coatings reduce friction coefficients against metallic heddle wires during repeated cyclical movement across the loom harness. Excess size accumulation creates stiff boardy sections that jam drop wires and trigger automatic loom stoppages during operation. Weaving supervisors monitor loom efficiency percentages to detect coating defects before grey cloth inspection reveals broken picks or reed marks.
Final fabric grades depend entirely on this preparatory stage, because uneven sizing creates permanent streaks that survive subsequent bleaching and dyeing procedures.