Singeing Process in Textile: Objectives, Necessity and Precaution

Singeing in Textile:
When yarn is made from short-staple fibers, the two ends of the fiber may not be embedded inside the yarn and are projected due to the twist imparted during spinning. For multi-filament yarns, some filaments may break or cut in places and are projected from the surface. Singeing or gassing is a very effective method for removal of these projected fibers. Though singeing is not essential for all types of fabrics.

The verb ‘singe’ literally means ‘to burn superficially’. Technically, singeing refers to the burning-off of. Loose fibers not firmly bound into the yarn and/or fabric structure. Singeing is an important part of pretreatment. This is the burning off of protruding fiber ends from the surface of the fabric. If not done properly, unclear print patterns, mottled fabric surfaces, and pilling results.

• Loose yarns not firmly bound into the fabric structure;
• Protruding fiber ends sticking out of the textile yarns and/or fabrics.

Textiles materials are most commonly singed in woven or knitted fabric form or in yarn form. The process is done by passing the fabric rapidly over a singeing machine with gas burners. The burners are specifically arranged such that both sides of the fabric are singed.

Objectives and Advantages of Singeing:

1. Singeing of a fabric is done in order to obtain a clean fabric surface which allows the structure of the fabric to be clearly seen.
2. Fabrics, which have been singed, soil less easily than un-singed fabrics.
3. The risk of pilling, especially with synthetics and their blends, is reduced in case of singed fabrics.
4. Singed fabrics allow printing of fine intricate patterns with high clarity and detail.
5. The risk of skittery dyeing with singed articles dyed in dark shades is considerably reduced, as randomly protruding fibers are removed in singeing which could cause diffused reflection of light.

Necessity of Singeing Process in Textile:
Singeing of textile materials is necessary for the following reasons:

• Cotton materials are valued for their smooth appearance. After the formation of fabric it has a fuzzy or hairy appearance due to projecting fibers, thus affecting the luster and smoothness cotton is known for.
• Unsigned fabrics are soiled easily
• The protruding fibers obstruct the subsequent dyeing and printing process
• Goods which are to be mercerized are signed to maximize the luster
• In fabrics of polyester and cellulosic fiber blends singeing is the best method to control pilling, sometimes double singeing is done to minimize the pilling.

Singeing Process in Textile Industry:
Singeing process in textile is as follows:

1. To produce a smooth surface finish on fabrics made from staple fibers first the fabric surfaces are brushed lightly to raise the unwanted fiber ends.
2. Then the fabric is singed with or passed over heated copper plates or open gas flames. The fiber ends burn off.
3. The fabric is moved very rapidly, and only the fiber ends are destroyed.
4. As soon as the fabric leaves the singeing area, it enters a water bath or desizing bath. This stops any singeing afterglow or sparks that might damage the cloth.
5. After singeing, cooling of the fabric, by either cooling cylinders or water bath, is needed to recover the handle.

Precaution During Singeing:
Some of the precautions to be taken in considerations during singeing:

1. The fabric to be singed should be dry as wet fabric tends to scorch more readily than dry.
2. Uneven singeing may cause streaks on fabric or bubbles when the fabric is finished.
3. Improper singeing may lead to loss of 75 % loss in tensile strength loss in warp direction.
4. The fabric should not contain any acid releasing salt, which may release acid on heating and tender the fabric.
5. Stopping the machines may cause bars on the fabrics.
6. Singeing may cause hardening of the size thus leading to difficulty in its removal.
7. Possibility of thermal damage to temperature sensitive fabrics.
8. The burning characteristics of fibers must be taken into account when this process is applied, as heat-sensitive fibers melt, forming tiny balls on the surface of the fabric. These balls interfere with dye absorption, so that, as a general rule, heat sensitive fibers would be singed after dyeing or printing.

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Jahanara Rony

Editor of Fashion2Apparel. She is a fashion designer and ex-lecturer in Fashion Designing. She wants to spread fashion knowledge throughout the world.

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