Pretreatment
Highly Alkali-Stable Wetting Agent
A wetting agent built to keep working in strongly alkaline, high-temperature liquor without breaking down or foaming out of control.
Process stage & fibres
| Process stage | Pretreatment |
|---|---|
| Fibres suited | Cotton, particularly where the process runs through concentrated caustic soda. |
Function
This is a wetting agent built to keep working in strong caustic soda at high temperature, conditions where an ordinary wetting agent can break down. It is used in mercerising and other high-alkali pretreatment baths. It keeps penetration even through a long batch, so lustre and finish stay consistent from the start of the run to the end.
Typical applications and what it solves
- Uneven mercerising lustre traced back to wetting agent breakdown in strong caustic
- Foaming or performance loss with standard wetting agents in high-alkali scouring liquor
- Maintaining consistent penetration through a long causticising bath run
Technical data
| Solubility | Soluble in water and in concentrated caustic soda liquor |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Compatible with the alkalis, peroxide stabilisers and sequestering agents typically run alongside it in mercerising and causticising baths. Confirm compatibility with any cationic addition separately. |
| Storage and shelf life | Store in a cool, dry place in the original, tightly closed container, away from direct sunlight. |
Disclaimer: The information above is general reference information for this class of auxiliary. It is not a certificate of analysis or a safety data sheet. Please request the current TDS and MSDS before use.
Handling and storage
Handle with gloves and eye protection. Because this product is normally dosed into concentrated caustic soda liquor, follow your site's caustic-handling procedure for the bath itself, not just the auxiliary.