Fabric Finishes
What this domain tests
Fabric finishes are treatments applied after construction to change handle, appearance or performance. The exam asks you to classify a finish as mechanical or chemical, temporary or durable, and to match a finish to a named fibre or fabric.
Core rules
- Mechanical finishes change the fabric physically: calendering (smooth, glazed), raising or brushing (soft nap), sanforising (controlled shrinkage), heat-setting (thermoplastic fabrics), embossing (relief pattern).
- Chemical finishes add a substance: mercerising (cotton in alkali gives strength, lustre and dye uptake), resin or easy-care (reduces creasing but can lower strength and absorbency), flame retardant, water repellent, anti-static, mothproofing.
- Temporary finishes (starching, sizing) wash out; durable finishes resist washing but may still wear off.
- A finish should suit end use: children’s nightwear needs flame-retardant treatment; rainwear needs water repellent, not necessarily waterproof.
Worked example
A cotton bed sheet is described as “mercerised and sanforised”. Explain both. Mercerising is a chemical caustic-soda treatment that swells cotton fibres, increasing lustre, strength and dye absorption. Sanforising is a mechanical shrink-control process that compacts the fabric so washing shrinkage is reduced. The sheet therefore looks smoother and keeps its size better, but neither finish makes it flameproof or waterproof.
Traps
Mercerising is not a mechanical brushing finish; “water repellent” is not the same as “waterproof”; flame-retardant does not mean fireproof. Do not call a finish permanent just because it is chemical-resin finishes can degrade. Name the fibre, because the same finish may work differently on cotton and polyester.