Different types of Dry process for Apparel manufacturing
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Topic: Different types of Dry process for
Apparel
Course Title: Apparel Manufacturing-ІІІ
Course Code: TE-417
Prepared by:
Md. Monjurul Alam
BSC IN TEXTILE ENGINEER.
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Introduction:
The distressed jeans that we see around everywhere undergo a wide variety of wet
as well as dry treatments to get the desired effects. Destroying denims is as much
an art as it is a technique. The direction in fashion is varied across all areas
particularly in denim dry process, whether worn or torn to wrinkled or pressed;
these trends can appeal to a wide range of consumers. These can be achieved by
variety of denim dry processingtechniques which are mainly dependent on
physical and on chemical abrasion of the surface dye there by producing different
wash-down looks to the denim fabrics. Hot spots are heavy/intense area on thigh or
knee, which is made purposely to create used-look & on knee area if any whiskers
lines are there, called knee star.
Different types of Dry process for Apparel:
1. Sand blasting
2. Potassium permanganate spray (P.P Spray):
3. Potassium Permanganate Sponging/ Brushing
4. Destroyed Denim
5. Hand Scrapping
6. Tacking
7. Whiskering
8. Hand Sand / Hand Scraping
9. Chevrons
10.Knee Star / knee whiskers
11. Hot .Spot
12.Grinding
13. Patch / repair
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14. Bleach spots
15. Wrinkle
16. Resin
1.Sand blasting:
Sand blasting is the process of scrubbing off the garment by blowing high-speed air mixed with
very fine particles of sand. This is a very successful and most widely used process for fashion
articles. When the surface area of the garment is blasted, white cotton appears beneath the
blasted area and the effect appearing is very similar to the worn out jeans. Sand blast provides a
very uniform result, which cannot be achieved with its alternates. Its specialty is the merging
effect that is blended with such a beauty that it has no difference with natural effect.
High pressure of air produces a powerful backward thrust to operator so it is always
recommended to fix the gun in appropriate stands rather than placing it on shoulders or using it
with bare hands. On some fabrics sand blasting is not successful for it covers the characteristics
of fabric. Especially in fabrics, which are famous for slob patterns it flattens the look. Specified
areas for sand blasting are front thigh, back seat, back panel near bottom or front panel around
knee. Some time full body blasting is also done for giving a unique look to fabric. Hot spots may
be designed for more real look on front knees or back seat by intense blasting in these areas.
Picture: Sand Blasting effects on Jeans
Procedure of Sand Blasting:
Individual garment to be processed is taken on a table.
Air compressor is started and pressure to be maintained between 3 – 4 kg/sq.cm.
Air compressor then stores air in the machine cylinder. Aluminum sand or silicon sand,
Al2(SiO4)3, is then taken in the chamber of the blasting machine.
Sand and compressed air are then sprayed over the garments at specific points at 10-200
angle by hand spray pipe.
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Picture: Produce Sand Blasting effect on Jeans
Sands pass into the machine by regulating system.
The machine comprises a blasting regulator and a hand regulator to control the amount of
sand and compressed air respectively.
The angle of sand blowing is very important. Higher the blowing angle, higher the fading
effect and higher the risk of fabric damage.
Fading is done on pre-marked areas.
Sandblasting is a hazardous technique and therefore, the area should be isolated from
other working areas.
Handling of sandblasting gun is risky therefore, operators should use safety equipments
like hand gloves, mask and gown. Production/hour/gun varies from 25 – 45 garments
depending upon the degree of fading or extent of fading to be attained.
Picture: Sand-Blasting, Air Compressor with Nozzle
The faded garments are cleaned by shaking manually. After sandblasting, garments are
washed and the technique is being followed may be normal, bleach or bio-stone.
2.Potassium permanganate spray (P.P Spray):
Potassium permanganate spray is done on jeans to take a bright effect on sand blast area. One
important thing about potassium permanganate spray is, this is usually a sporting process to
increase the effect of sand blast. Potassium permanganate solution is sprayed on blasted area of
jeans garment with the help of normal spray gun. This potassium permanganate spray appears
pink on garment when fresh and turns to muddy brown on drying. The garment is hanged in open
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to dry after potassium permanganate spray and when the potassium permanganate turns its colors
completely then it is considered to ready for next process. It is always followed by neutralization
process. Sodium Meta bisulphate is most commonly used neutralizer. A number of products are
available in market for neutralization process like sodium Meta bisulfate selected on the bases of
effect required on blasted area.
Potassium permanganate sprays concentrations ranges from .25 gm per liter to 15.00 grams per
liter depending to required results and fabric types. Usually indigo died fabrics are treated with
low concentrations whereas Black Sulfur Fabric requires high concentrations to treat with.
Picture: P.P effect on Jeans
Process of pp spray:
1. Potassium permanganate spray in best is done in specific spray booths, where rubber dummies
are installed for holding garments. Garments are mounted on the dummies and air is filled so the
garment is full fit exposed. Specific dummies are used for different sizes and styles, like for kids,
men’s, trousers, jackets, shirts etc. The booths are fitted with proper air exhaust system. This
system leads the spray to treatment room where the chemical mixed air is usually passed through
the water showers. Potassium permanganate is dissolved in water and the clean air is blown to
open. Shower water is further treated with mild quantities of neutralizer before adding to main
drain. But where the potassium permanganate spray is used in low concentrations then there is
now need to treat shower water. This mild potassium permanganate mixed water is rather useful
for water reservoirs to keep the water clean and germs free.
Fig: Before pp spray and after pp spray denim
2. Garments are mounted on air-filled rubber dummies and chemical is sprayed on blasted areas.
The variables in spray process are as follows:
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Distance of spray gun to garment: Less distance will give more defined and sharp effect
whereas distant spray will result in more mild and merged effect. Distance ranges from
one foot to two and a half feet.
Air to water ratio of gun: This is to be set very carefully. Low air pressure possibly will
through KMnO4 drops on garment resulting in bright white spots whereas high pressure
will produce very low bright effect spray effect to areas where it is not required.
Potassium Permanganate Solution Concentration: This will control the extent of
brightness.
3.Potassium Permanganate Sponging/ Brushing:
PP Spray is being done on denim garments to achieve local abraded area to appear whiter than
back ground indigo color shade. This can be applied by sponges dipped in to PP Solution &
rubbed on desired area followed by neutralization in wet process. This process can be done in
rigid after doing hand scrape or in the middle of the wash. Doing after enzyme or bleach cycle
will give more natural & white effect that doing in rigid. There are many additives can be added
in order to achieve desired intensity and look.
In usual, it is done with regular paint brushes or the brushes are modified by cutting hairs in
different shapes to produce new styles. Rather towels, sponges, straw bunches or other objects
are also used to create effects. What it is seen, is that most merging and beautiful effects are
created with towel. Towel dipped in solution are drawn over the garment very lightly. This
produces random effect and looks great with dark washes in contrast.
This process is very complicated & needs highly skilled operators to execute it followed by
immediate neutralization.
Picture: P.P effects on Jeans
Procedure of P.P Sponging/ Brushing:
Prepare Potassium Permanganate solution.(P.P 20%,water 80%).
Take the solution in a tray or bowl.
Take a rubber board.
Then take a jeans trouser & place the rubber board inside the leg panel of the trouser.
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Now place the trouser with rubber board on a flat table & sponged or rubbed P.P on
apparel surface.
Then color will faded.
After this process wet process essential (detergent/bleach/enzyme wash).
4.Destroyed Denim:
One of the most popular distressing effects currently , ‘Destruction’ is an art which make denim
look unique & used. To make destruction pen type of stone tools being used in mid of wash
process to apply on desired area. It can also be achieved by cutting it thru knife the warp yarns &
keep the weft yarn as is to show white thread. Holes also can be made by cutting weft & warp
yarns. These are all manual processes & every garment will look unique & different than others.
Different types of machine used for destroy the garments. Such as-
Grinding Machine.
Emery Cloth.
Hacksaw Blade.
Needle.
Knife etc.
Picture: Destroyed Jeans
Process of Destroyed Denim:
We can make holes in jeans by overdoing different methods. The trick is to make the
holes look natural. Grind away at the fabric slowly. Try not to localize the worn area,
spread it with diminishing wear the further we get from the intended hole.
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Picture: Process of Destroyed Jeans
The area around the hole should be worn out as well as bleached to further blend the hole
with the surrounding fabric. "Finish" the edges with a pumice stone or sandpaper
dampened in bleach. Also dampening a sponge with bleach and applying it to the outer
edges of the hole will add to the natural worn look.
Ripped jeans are a bit different. The rip is not necessarily from wear, and should not look
the same as a worn out hole.
It is important that what types of look we want to see on our denim. It is recommend to
use a sharp pocket knife. Be careful, they are very sharp. Rub the blade of the knife
perpendicular to the line of the rip that we want. Continue until we create a slit, and then
fray the edges, exposing the threads that are perpendicular to the rip. Do this until the
hole is the size that we want and the edges are fuzzy. A wash and a dry will further mess
up the edge. To some extent this will control further fraying.
To reinforce this newly created hole, turn your pants inside out and place an adequately
cut piece of fabric around it and sew it. An iron on will work as well, but the stitching,
done either by hand or with a sewing machine, will make it look much better.
It is preferred that not too many holes, 3 to 5 should be enough. The current trend,
however, seems to be for smaller holes.
The scope of denim dry process is very broad. Only innovative products will be able to open up
new markets and new horizons for denim industry. To achieve this it is essential to invest in
further research and development. Globalization has opened the door to competition at the
highest level. Every industry should now produce products that are best in terms of quality and
price. Customers today have a wide range of choices and the one who produces the best quality
at a high competitive price will survive and prosper.
5.Whiskering:
whiskers are one of the most important design of a used look garment. The idea of whiskers is
taken from the worn out lines and impression patterns generated by natural wearing on hips and
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front thigh area. On old jeans, a number of patterns can be finding consequential to fabric, body
shape of user or sitting posture. It is also known as Cat's Whisker.
Fig: Whisker on jeans
Whiskering Process:
Various methods are designed to create this impression on jeans. Such as:-
Mostly rubber balloons are available with different pattern designs. Garments are
mounted on balloons and filled with air to get impressions of whiskers. Garment is
scrubbed over pattern carefully with sand paper on engraved pattern lines. This operation
requires high skilled labor and who can handle uniformity and sequence in whisker line.
Fabric may damage during rubbing if care is not taken. This method is famous for high
quality and cost effectiveness.
Picture: Producing Wiskering Effect on Denim
Sometimes separate patterns are made and fixed on balloons to make mustaches. These
patterns are made of thin rubber sheets and electric wires or rubber cords and pasted on
balloons for pattern lines. Thin line patterns are very easy to work in that way but it is not
much successful for broad lines.
Engraved patterns on thick board like hard rubber sheets are widely used for whiskers
impression making. This idea is very simple to draw lines on rubber sheets and engrave
them with blade. Garment is places on sheet and scrapped on specific area to draw this
impression on garment. For its low cost patterns, it is most frequently used in small
industries especially where the production is not consistent to style.
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Fig: Machines to produce wiskering effect
In some workshops it is done manually with the help of sharp edge rolled on fine wood
sticks of pasted on plastic material. Before starting execution, placement and pattern must
be marked on garment, this will help operator to execute the pattern right to match the
aesthetics of garment.
6.Tacking:
Tacking is a process which is being done by swift tag machine with the help of plastic or
nylon tag pins in rigid form of garment to get very heavy contrast ( rigid & washed ) on
waistband, bottom hems, back pocket & front pocket corners etc.. after completing wash
cycle, it must be removed from garment before making softening.
Tacking is doing on garment for fashion and value added fashion wear.
Tacking is doing by tagging machines.
Tacking is doing also by needle & thread & manually.
After wash upper portion of garment occur crease mark and inside of tagging occurs dark shade.
7.Hand Sand / Hand Scraping:
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A hand scraper is a single-edged tool used to scrape metal from a surface. This may be required
where a surface needs to be trued, corrected for fit to a mating part, needs to retain oil (usually
on a freshly ground surface), or even to give a decorative finish.
Surface plates were traditionally made by scraping. Three raw cast surface plates, a flat scraper
and a quantities of bearing blue (or Red Lead) were all that was required in the way of tools.
The scraper in the center of the image is a three corner scraper and is typically used to debar
holes or the internal surface of bush type bearings. Bushes are typically made from bronze or a
white metal
8.Wrinkle:
A wrinkle, also known as a rhytide, is a fold, ridge or crease in the cloth or
garments. Wrinkle is a particular type of pressure in the finished fabric. It is
produced during finishing operations by the thickness of the seam used to join
pieces for processing. Wrinkle resistance in a fabric is a desirable attribute, but it
is not easily measured quantitatively. Wrinkle resistance varies from quite low in
many fabrics to very high in resilient fabrics. In order to form a wrinkle, a fabric’s
wrinkle resistance must be overcome. The fabric may, however, produce strains
and store potential energy that can become evident as wrinkle recovery under
suitable conditions.
i. Permanent Wrinkle Process:
Permanentwrinkle is doing on garments after all types of wet process wash in dry
position.
Permanent wrinkleis done on the garments made from all types of fabrics
like, Denim, Twill,
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Canvas, Poplin, Corduroy, Knit& Polyester etc.
For permanent wrinklewe are use resin which is spray on garments
particular/specific area by nozzle.
Resin is diluted with water which is recommended by chemical supplier,
generally 20% resin& 80% water.
Then trolley with resin treatment garments put inside the Industrialoven.
Set temperature 140°c to 160°c, Time 20-40 minutes.
ii. Overall Wrinkle Process:
Generally overall wrinkleis doing on garments after all types of wet process
& dry process.
Overall wrinkleis done on the garment made fromall types of fabrics like,
Denim, Twill,
Canvas, Poplin, Corduroy, Knit, Polyester, Viscose & Nylon etc.
Now tie the whole garment in tight position by thread.
For overall wrinkle, we are used resin in washing machine with water and
run tied garments for 5 to 10 minutes at 50°c temperature.
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9.Chevron, Knee Star, Hot Spot:
On Denim, whiskers /Mustaches, Chevrons arenothing but the worn out lines /
impression generated by natural wearing on hip & thigh area. There are many
designs & pattern available.
This is being done manually with help of sharp edge Emery paper rolled on fine
wood stick or pasted on plastic material. Before starting execution placements &
pattern must be marked on garments, this will help operator to execute the
pattern right to match the aesthetics of garment. Hot spots are heavy/intense
area on thigh or knee which is made purposely to create used look & on knee area
if any whiskers lineare there, called knee star.Allabove operations are carried out
in width direction hence its appears intense than hand sand with less strokes,
because hand sand is carried out in length direction.
10.Resin:
Resin (Formaldehyde free) being used for achieving 3D effect (3 Dimensional),
Rigid Look etc. This process can be done by spraying or dipping the garments
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in to Resin, Catalyst, Silicone & PU solution in right combination according to
the fabric strength & desired effect needed. After application of resin solution in
right proportion, make manual designing as needed on the thigh, hip & back
knee area to get 3Dimentional effect. After making it, it should be manually
dried with hot press or hair dryer & then must be cured in oven at right
temperature, time as mentioned in resin productmanual.
If resin not cured properly, 3 D effect will not be permanent & can cause skin
irritation/rashes to the wearer. Highly skilled operators need to execute this
process in order to get consistency& uniformity.
Conclusion:
The scope of denim dry finishing is very broad. Only innovative products will be
able to open up new markets and new horizons for denim industry. To achieve this
it is essential to invest in further research and development. Globalization has
opened the door to competition at the highest level. Every industry should now
produce products that are best in terms of quality and price. Customers today have
a wide range of choices and the one who produces the best quality at a high
competitive price will survive and prosper. The driving force for change in denim
dry finishes is the need for a competitive strategy by cost conscious finisher to add
the value. Compatibility is essential to provide short multifunctional finishes that
can be applied simultaneously. Innovative and enhanced results are possible
through application of various types of denim finishing, which in turn would bring
greater financial profits. To achieve this, the garment manufacturers are required to
develop a futuristic vision and take appropriate measures to overcome the
problems of denim processing.