Megha International

In cotton woven fabric processing, auxiliaries are the support chemicals used at each wet-processing stage to clean, protect, dye, and finish the fabric properly. Below is a standard, industry-style breakdown used in mills and labs.

(If fabric contains starch/PVA size)

• Enzymes (α-amylase)

• Wetting agents

• Detergents

Purpose: Remove size materials for good absorbency.

• Wetting agents

• Detergents

• Emulsifiers

• Sequestering (chelating) agents

• Alkali stabilizers

Purpose: Remove waxes, oils, dirt, and natural impurities.

In cotton yarn processing, auxiliaries are the chemicals used to help clean, protect, dye, and finish the yarn during different wet-processing stages (package dyeing, hank dyeing, beam dyeing, etc.). Below is a clear, mill-level classification that’s commonly used in textiles.

• Non-ionic / anionic surfactants
  Purpose: Improve yarn absorbency and allow uniform liquor penetration.

• Detergents

• Emulsifiers

• Sequestering (chelating) agents

• Alkali stabilizers

Purpose: Remove natural waxes, oils, dirt, and spinning lubricants.

(Commonly hydrogen peroxide bleaching)

• Peroxide stabilizers

• Buffering agents

• Sequestering agents

• Wetting agents

Purpose: Increase whiteness without damaging yarn strength.

Antifungal treatments for textiles are used to prevent mold, mildew, and fungal growth—especially in humid conditions. Here’s a clear overview to help you understand the main options and how they’re used:

• How they work: Silver ions disrupt fungal cell functions

• Pros: Long-lasting, effective at low concentrations

• Uses: Sportswear, socks, medical and hygienic textiles

• How they work: Damage fungal cell membranes

• Pros: Cost-effective

• Cons: Can wash out over time

• Uses: Upholstery, curtains, home textiles

• How they work: Inhibit fungal growth enzymes

• Pros: Very effective

• Uses: Outdoor fabrics, tents, awnings

• How they work: Interfere with fungal metabolism

• Pros: Broad-spectrum action

• Uses: Socks, footwear linings

• Examples: Chitosan, neem extract, essential oils

• Pros: Eco-friendly

• Cons: Lower durability

• Uses: Organic or sustainable textiles

Microencapsulation is a textile finishing technology in which active substances are enclosed within microscopic capsules and then applied to fabrics. These capsules release their contents gradually or when triggered, giving textiles functional or smart properties.

Dye fixing agents are chemicals applied after dyeing to improve color fastness, especially wash fastness and rubbing fastness, by locking dye molecules more firmly onto the fiber.

• Reduce dye bleeding during washing

• Improve wash, water, and perspiration fastness

• Enhance shade stability

• Essential for cotton and viscose, especially with reactive & direct dyes

It seems you want to know about washing agents for textiles—chemicals used in wet processing to clean, prepare, or enhance textiles before or after dyeing.

Purpose of Washing Agents

Washing agents are used to:

• Remove impurities like oils, waxes, dirt, sizing, or finishing chemicals

• Improve wetting and penetration of liquids

• Prepare fabric/yarn for dyeing, printing, or finishing

• Improve hand feel, softness, and appearance

Here’s a detailed overview of auxiliaries for polyester yarns, used in wet processing to prepare, dye, finish, and improve the quality of polyester fibers. Polyester is hydrophobic and heat-sensitive, so auxiliaries are carefully chosen.

• Non-ionic surfactants
  Purpose: Improve wetting of hydrophobic polyester yarn in water.

• Mild detergents for cleaning lubricants and spinning oils.

• Remove residual oils, grease, and impurities from fibers.

• Prevent foam formation during high-temperature processing.

Photochromic effects for textiles, which are used to create fabrics that change color in response to light, usually UV.

• Photochromic textiles contain dyes or pigments that change color when exposed to sunlight (UV light) and revert back in the absence of light.

• The effect is reversible and can be tailored for fashion, safety, or functional applications.

When we talk about mosquito-repellent textiles, we mean treatments or coatings that make fabric unattractive or irritating to mosquitoes so they don’t bite through or land on the textile surface.

There are three common approaches:

1. Chemical treatments (e.g., permethrin)

2. Natural / plant-based sprays

3. Pre-treated textiles (manufactured repellent clothing, nets, curtains)

Water repellents for textiles are treatments that make fabric resist water by causing droplets to bead up and roll off instead of soaking in. Here’s a clear, teen-friendly overview 👇

They coat the fibers with a thin, invisible layer that lowers the fabric’s surface energy. Water can’t spread, so it beads up.
⚠️ Important: Water-repellent ≠ waterproof. Repellent resists light rain and splashes, while waterproof blocks water completely.

• Used on jackets, outdoor gear, backpacks

• Often factory-applied

• Can wear off over time and needs reapplication

• Modern versions are increasingly PFAS-free (more eco-friendly)

Knit fabrics (like cotton jersey, polyester blends, and cotton-lycra) require special auxiliaries because of their stretchable structure. They are more sensitive to tension, shrinkage, and harsh chemicals compared to woven fabrics. Auxiliaries are used in pretreatment, dyeing, finishing, and garment washing to ensure uniformity, color fastness, and fabric performance.

Metallic effects for textiles, which is all about giving fabrics a shiny, reflective, or metallic look. These are widely used in fashion, home textiles, and technical fabrics.

• Metallic effect gives textiles a shiny or reflective surface, mimicking metals like gold, silver, bronze, or chrome.

• Can be full coverage (metallic fabric) or partial (metallic prints, foils, yarns).

Softeners for Textiles are finishing agents applied to fabrics to improve hand feel, drape, smoothness, and comfort. They are widely used in apparel, home textiles, and technical fabrics.

Textile softeners are chemical finishes that modify the surface of fibers to reduce friction, making fabrics feel:

• Softer

• Smoother

• More flexible

They are usually applied in the finishing stage of textile processing.