Optimizing Wet Pick up Values in Flax Warp Slashing
Optimizing flax wet pick-up between 80 and 95 percent balances film encapsulation with core penetration, minimizing loom warp breaks and sizing liquor cost.
Soxhlet Desizing Extraction
Extraction Method
Laboratory technique employs a continuous solvent washing cycle to isolate and measure the amount of sizing material present on a fabric. Solvent vapors rise through a side tube and condense into a chamber containing the linen sample, slowly dissolving the waxes and polymers. Performing a soxhlet desizing extraction provides a highly accurate reading of the non-cellulosic content that could interfere with downstream processing.
This method is the preferred choice for research and development because it allows for the recovery of the extracted substances.
Residue Measurement
Technicians use the weight of the dried residue to calculate the percentage of size that was originally on the greige cloth. While the soxhlet desizing extraction is more time consuming than a simple dip test, its precision is necessary for validating the performance of new sizing recipes. The resulting data helps the mill decide if the current washing temperature is sufficient to clean the fabric for the dye house.
Solvent Selection
Choosing the correct organic liquid ensures that the natural lignins of the flax remain intact while the synthetic additives are removed. Common solvents include petroleum ether or ethanol depending on whether the target is a lipid or a synthetic polymer. This selectivity makes the technique indispensable for troubleshooting uneven dyeing problems where residual size is the suspected cause.
Repeating the cycle until the solvent runs clear ensures that even the most stubborn residues are accounted for in the final mass balance.