Performance Evaluation of 100% Viscose Rayon Fabric Pre-treated with Different Alkalis

This study attempted to focus on the performance evaluation of 100% viscose rayon fabric in terms of strength, whiteness and hydrophilicity or absorbency after scouring and bleaching with two different alkalis such as NaOH and Na2CO3. This work was carried out with 100% viscose rayon knitted fabrics. A single stage scouring and bleaching process of the fabric was adopted using NaOH and Na2CO3 with varying concentrations and at the same processing conditions. The result obtained in this study indicated a great loss in strength with NaOH as compared to that with Na2CO3. Both the alkalis were found to be more or less equally efficient in terms of improved absorbency and whiteness.