Physical Finishing

Physical finishes include a wide range of processes to stabilise and enhance, in some cases completely change, the properties of textiles.

The nature of the process which confers dimensional stability to fabrics is determined by the fibre type and the fabric structure. Heat setting with stenters is used to stabilise thermoplastic materials; calendering or ironing is used to flatten and sometimes glaze fabrics. Relaxation or forced relaxation is used to stabilise non-thermoplastic materials. Sometimes chemical finishes are applied prior to the physical treatment to give more permanent results. In the case of sport and leisure wear raised and brushed fabrics are of particular interest.

Fleecy Fabrics

The surface effects of fleecy, plush or pile fabrics are developed by physical finishing processes. In fleecy fabrics, the fleece yarn fibres become entangled and indistinguishable from the base yarn on the effect side despite having been supplied separately during knitting. The effect may be developed on both sides of the fabric (as below). In pile and plush fabrics, the pile and plush are clearly distinguishable from the base.