Sizing

Definition and Overview

Sizing is a process in which a sizing agent is applied to warp yarns that have been wound and arranged, then dried to protect the yarn surface. It is carried out to suppress yarn breakage and fuzzing, since warp yarns are repeatedly subjected to tension and friction during weaving.

The type and amount of sizing agent, as well as drying conditions, are adjusted according to the type of fiber, yarn thickness, twist, fabric density, and loom conditions. The quality of sizing affects weaving stability and the fabric surface condition.

Features and Effects on Fabric

Properly sized warp yarns have less fuzz and are easier to make resistant to abrasion and better held together. As a result, it helps reduce warp breakage, warp streaks, and weaving irregularities during weaving.

However, sizing is usually not a finishing process that gives fabric its final hand or function. Since the sizing agent is removed in scouring and desizing after weaving, the final product's appearance and feel are also affected by the material and subsequent processing.

Main Applications

It is used in the manufacture of woven fabrics using warp yarns, from spun yarns such as cotton, linen, and rayon to filament yarns such as polyester. Condition control is especially important for fine-count yarns, high-density fabrics, and spun yarns that tend to produce fuzz in order to ensure weavability.

It is a manufacturing process related to a wide range of woven fabrics, including shirt fabrics, trouser fabrics, denim, lining, and industrial materials. Rather than a process for a specific item or season, it can be considered a basic process for producing woven fabrics stably.

How to Choose and Handling Precautions

When selecting fabric, the presence or absence of sizing alone cannot be used to determine the quality of the final product. Along with the material, structure, density, after-processing, and care label, confirm the test results for hand feel, shrinkage rate, colorfastness, and the condition of the bolt.

In greige fabric or fabric before desizing, residual sizing agent may make the fabric feel stiff. In this state, do not make a final judgment on shrinkage or hand feel; it is important to check the fabric after scouring, dyeing, and finishing under the same conditions as mass production.

In sewing, if the fabric is normally finished, there is usually no need to pay special attention to sizing. However, fabric with residual sizing may affect needle penetration and the state during pressing, so sewing tests and washing tests should be conducted in advance.

• Confirm shrinkage after washing and the hand feel before mass production.
• For greige fabric and trial woven goods, confirm the condition after desizing.
• Since shrinkage and hand feel may differ between the warp and weft directions, check both directions.

Differences from Similar Terms

Warping is the process of arranging many warp yarns in the required number and length, then winding them onto a beam. Sizing is the process of applying a sizing agent to the warp yarns after warping, and the role is different.

Desizing is the process before or after scouring in which the sizing agent applied for weaving is removed from the fabric. While sizing is the process of applying sizing, desizing is the process of removing it. In addition, shrink-resistant finishing and shape-retention finishing are processes that adjust the performance of the final fabric, and their purpose differs from sizing, which helps weaving.

Frequently Asked Questions