Flax Fibers

Although bleaching of flax-based textiles is more or less equivalent to that of cotton-based textiles yet two main factors are to be considered. Firstly flax possesses ca. 15-20 % natural impurities in contrast with cotton which acquires only 5 %. Secondly flax is more sensitive to alkali and oxidizing bleaching agents as compared with cotton. That is why bleaching of flax-based textiles is much longer and requires more care and precautions than cotton-based textiles. In general cellulosic fibers (e.g. flax cotton jute etc.) contain various impurities such as fats waxes pectins lignin and natural coloring matters; etc. Efficiently removing these impurities through subjecting these fibers to preparatory processes is a must to guarantee proper dying or printing and finishing.