Introduction

Finishing describes operations and processes which convert cloth from the loom or knitting machine into an attractive and serviceable fabric. This is achieved by cleaning the material, improving the handle and appearance, developing dimensional stability and adding any finishes required to improve serviceability, for example flame retardency or water repellency. Processes may be divided into physical, such as raising, cropping, calendering, setting and chemical, such as shrink resisting, crease resisting etc. Different routines are required by different fabrics to produce the characteristics desired by the final fabric or garment.

Stenter, used to heat set thermoplastic fabrics