Different Size Ingredients | Function of Size Ingredients

Size Ingredients & Their Functions
1. Gums: 

These materials from the base of size. There are two types of gum:

 

Natural: Until lately, mainly edible products were used as gums – starches used as 75% of size ingredients & it will continue till to near future. Common starches are potato, maize etc. Wheat flour, corn flour.

 

Synthetic: Polyvinyl alcohol, Carboximethyl cellulose, Polyacryloamide.

 

Functions:

• Coat the warp yarn with a film.
• Impart smoothness.
• Blind the protruding fibres to the yarn surface. 
• Increase elasticity.

2. Lubricants or Softeners: 

Vegetable & animal fats, Japan wax, tallow, cotton seed & castor oils, stearine, glycerin, soap, TRO etc.

Function:

• To give a softer feel to the sized yarn.
• To reduce stickiness of yarn.
• To smoothen the yarn.

3. Antiseptic or Anti Mildew Agent: 

Phenol, boric acid, carboxylic acid, zinc chloride, sodium silicofluoride, cresol etc. The quantity used is very low 0.1 to 2%.

Function:

• To prevent the growth of mildew.
• To prevent spoiling of the size mix during storing it for long time. 
• To help to store the sized yarn.

4. Wetting Agent: 

Sulphanol A, soap, avirol, alizarin oil etc. The amount of wetting agents introduced into the size should not exceed 0.1 to 0.15 gm/ltr.

Function:

• To improve the size wet ability.
• Improve the penetration of the size between the fibres.
• Uniform distribution of the sizing solution on the yarn surface is obtained.

5. Antifoaming Agent: 

Silicones, stearine-paraffin emulsions, benzene, pyridine. The antifoaming agents in amounts of 0.05 to 0.1 gm/ltr are stirred in a small quantity of warm water.

Function:

• To prevent formation of foam.

6. Tinting Agent:  

Blue is used as tinting agent.

Function:

• To increase the brightness & remove yellowish color of yarn.
• To prevent dusting off.
• To form a particular shade.

7. Weighting Agent:  

The most commonly used substances are soluble inorganic powders such as china clay, talc, barium or calcium sulfate.

Function:

• To give additional weights to the goods.
• To prevent opening of cloth.