Designing:

Sizing materials are added to increase the strength of warp yarn. It needs only weaving process.
For knitting as well as non-woven process, no need the sizes on the fabrics thus no need to
desizing. During wet processing, various chemicals are applied and before starting these
processes, we must be sure of maximum absorption of these chemicals. For this, the sizing
materials are removed by desizing. We can say, the main aim of desizing is the elimination of the
size material from the fabric. If the sizing materials cover the warp yarns, it will lead to uneven
dyeing, printing or finishing. If not taken out completely, it will affect washing and rubbing
fastness of the fabrics. The removal of hydrophobic part of the sizes is often especially
problematic.
It is not possible to remove all sizing agents during desizing, but are expected to be stabilized or
emulsified in the alkaline scouring. The total material present in the cotton fiber is up to 20% of
the fiber weight including that of 4-12% natural impurities. In the process of desizing, not only
sizing agents, but also some natural impurities are eliminated from fibers. Desizing depends
upon the sizing agents, adhesions between sizing materials and fabric materials, allowing the
desizing agent to degrade or solubilize the size material and finally to wash out the degradation
products.

Methods of desizing in textile wet processing:

In desizing process of cotton fabric can be accomplished by physical, chemical or combination
of physical and chemical mechanism. In desizing, the starches and polymers that are applied
which are insoluble, are converted into water soluble corn pound to ease their removal. This is
accomplished by transferring the starch into their simple sugars or simple water soluble
polymers.

Mainly desizing method are two types: 

1. Hydrolytic method:
1. Rot steeping
2. Alkali steeping
3. Enzymatic desizing process
 4. Washing with hot water
5. Acid de-sizing process
2. Oxidative desizing:
1. Chlorine desizing
2. Chlorite desizing
3. Bromite desizing
4. Peroxide desizing

Rot steeping desizing:

Rot steeping is very oldest method of desizing when man cannot know the use of enzymes or
other special chemicals. In this desizing process, starch is removed by rotting. In this process
fabric is stored at 40-60oC for overnight in water. It removes starch and water soluble impurities
with natural reaction. The main problems in rot steeping desizing are low efficiency due to
longer treatment time and degradation of cellulose due to cross-infections of mildew if the
fermentation process is not properly controlled.

Alkali steeping desizing:

In this method the starch is removed by the alkaline hydrolysis. The fabric is treated with 0.4-
0.6% caustic soda (NaOH) solution at 60oC to 70oC temperature and stored for 8 to 10 hours. In
alkali steeping care must be taken that, goods do not dry up, otherwise, it causes partial
concentration of alkali.

Acid steeping or de-sizing process:

In this method, 0.5-1.0% dilute sulphuric acid solution or HCl acid at 40-60oC temperature is
used for 4-6 hours to hydrolyzed the starch from the sized fabric. Dilute acid attacks the polymer
chain of starch and due to chain cleavage of starch molecule short water soluble or dispersible
chain segments are formed. In this desizing process the amount of size removed is comparatively
greater but it is risky process, due to hydrolytic degradation will occur which fall the strength of
cotton.
Enzymatic desizing process:
Among all desizing process, enzymatic desizing is very popular and effective. Enzymatic
desizing is the classical desizing process of degrading starch size on cotton fabrics using
enzymes. Enzymes are complex organic, soluble bio-catalysts, formed by living organisms,
which catalyze chemical reaction in biological processes. Enzymes are quite specific in their
action on a particular substance. A small quantity of enzyme is able to decompose large polymer
molecules. Amylases are the enzymes that hydrose and reduce the molecular weight of amylase
and amylosepectin molecules in starch, rendering it water soluble enough to be washed off the
fabric.

These enzymes, as vary through their source, they also vary according to their
application condition. 

Effective enzymatic desizing requires strict control of pH, temperature, water hardness,
electrolyte addition and choice of surfactant. 

The oxidative desizing:

In oxidative desizing, the risk of damage to the cellulose fiber is very high and its use for
desizing is increasingly rare. Oxidative desizing uses potassium or sodium persulfate or sodium
bromite as an oxidative agent. The most important aspects of oxidizing agents are that they can
be applicable to wide range of fabrics, the size content of which is often not known