An Overview of Different Types of Singeing Machines
Shahed Hossen
B.Sc. in Textile Engineering
Major in Apparel Engineering
Textile Engineering College, Zorargonj, CTG
Email: shsaymon717@gmail.com
Four major processes used for to make a complete garment, which can be wearable or non-wearble. These are –
- Yarn Manufacturing
- Fabric Manufacturing
- Wet processing
- Apparel Manufacturing
In wet processing, textile substrate is treated with colorants and/or chemicals, collectively referred to as inputs in GOTS terminology. There are four major sections under wet processing. Singeing is the term of pre-treatment section and it is most important part of fabric pre-treatment process.
What is Singeing?
The process by which the fabric is made smooth by burning the projecting fibers, hairy fibers, loose threads etc. located on the surface of the fabric is called singeing.
In the weaving process, the warp yarn is passed through the warp wires and tubes of the loom. During this process some fibers move out of the surface of the yarn i.e. the yarn becomes hairy due to constant friction between the heald wire and the yarn, these are called projecting/floating fibers.
Simply put, singeing is the process of burning off the floating/projected fibers from the fabric surface; the resulting fabric is smooth, enhances shine and resists pilling.
Objective of Singeing:
Singeing is a must for the fabric to make it smooth and shiny. Apart from this, singeing is necessary to make the subsequent process of the fabric easy and free from creasing.
The fabric is singeing for a nice and fine print. Otherwise the printed fabric is not will be perfect. In fabric of polyester and cellulosic fiber blends, singeing is the best method to control pilling. Sometimes double singeing is done to minimize the pilling.
Different Types of Singeing Machines:
Mainly three types of singeing machines are used in singeing process,
- Plate Singeing Machine.
- Gas/flame Singeing Machine.
- Cylinder/Roller Singeing Machine.
1. Plate singeing machine:
The cloths across on top of and in contiguity with one or two heated curved copper plates in this method. The thickness of the plates ranges from 1 to 2 inches. The heating of the plates is done by a suitable burning arrangement of gas mixed with air.
Working Principle:
The heating of the plates is done by a suitable burning arrangement of gas mixed with air. The plates are heated to bright red and the cloth passes over and in contact with these plates at a speed 150-250 yards per minute, the protruding fibers are burnt during the passage.
Due to contact between the cloth and a hard and hot surface of metal a certain amount of luster in the cloth is produced. The passage of the cloth can be arranged in such a manner that one or both sides of the fabric may pass over and in contact with the heated plate in order to accomplish singeing of one or both sides in a single passage.
To avoid local cooling plate, an automatic traversing mechanism is fitted to the machine. This mechanism brings the cloth into contact with a constantly changing part of the plate, not only to avoid local cooling but also local wearing of the plate.
This type of singeing has some drawbacks as given below:
- The fibers end present in the interstices of warp and weft are not singed, since they are not made accessible.
- As the maintenance of uniform temperature is difficult in the plates, uneven singeing may result.
This singeing process can be explained with the following figure:
The most important advantage of plate singeing machine is Uniform singeing & very suitable for back filter in finishing process. Unfortunately, to do complete this process more labor cost needed.
2. Gas Singeing Machine:
In this type of singeing machine, the fabric passes over a burning gas flame at such a speed that only the protruding fibers burn and the main body of the fabric is not damaged by the flame. This is the most common type of machine used for singeing fabrics as well yarns.
This is the most commonly used process for both woven and knit fabrics.
Singeing Procedure:
This machine can singed both parts/sides. At first the fabric is drawn on to the guide roller and the brushing is done on the both sides of the fabric, so that flying fibers stands sufficiently.
A water-cooled roller is provided at a location opposite to the burners, not to undermine the strength of even thin fabrics. Drain temperature of water-cooled roller ranges of 50-55 degree C.
Cautions are required because a dew-point is generated when the water-cooled roller is cooled down too much, and result in increased amount of remaining fuzz or adhered carbon. The fabric feed speed: 100-150 m/minute.
This singeing process can be explained with the following figure:
After singeing the fabric is immersed in the water or desizing tank to prepare the next process.
Advantages of gas singeing machine:
The advantage of gas singeing machine is given below,
- Uniform temp. ensure to proper singeing.
- Both side of the fabric can be singed.
- As the process is continuous, there is no hamper in production.
- After singeing, fabrics are easily cleaned.
- Standard process.
- Ideal singeing.
Disadvantages of gas singeing machine:
The disadvantage of gas singeing machine is given below,
- Not suitable for synthetic fiber
- The burner can produce spot on the fabric.
- Due to inconsistent of fabric speed, it may be burnt.
3. Rotary-cylinder or Roller singeing machine:
In this type of singeing machine, the cloth passes over and in contact with a heated rotary cylinder made of copper or cast iron which has internal firing.
The surface of the roller singeing machine is a rotating cylinder rather than a fixed curved plate. It is either made of cut cast iron and can be supplied with an internal firing system. The freshly heated surface of the cylinder is presented to the cylinder fabric by the slow rotation of the cylinder. The rotation of the cylinder is opposite to the fabric movement which ensures efficient singing in sleep.
Working Procedure:
In this type of singeing machine, the fabric is attached to a heated rotary cylinder made of copper. The rotating cylinder rotates slowly so that one surface of the roller is constantly in contact with the fabric.
The direction of rotation of the cylinder is opposite to the direction of the fabric so that the stretched fibers of the fabric are removed. If both sides of the fabric need to be sintered, two cylinders are employed, one for each side of the fabric.
This singeing process can be explained with the following figure:
Benefits of roller singeing machine:
- Back filling finishing is not a problem
- Suitable for velvet cotton.
- Uneven singeing Machine
Disadvantages roller singeing machine:
- Due to friction of the cylinder, the brightness of the fabric decreases.
- Fiber ends of warp and weft are not singeing properly.
Conclusion:
Singeing is an important step in the pre-treatment process. Singeing is a process of removing projecting or floating fibers. Singeing is mainly done to smooth the fabric and increase its brightness and luster.
FAQs:
Q1. What is GOTS terminology?
Ans: The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) has a clearly defined set of criteria and is transparent. GOTS is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibers, including ecological and social criteria, backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain.
Q2. Which singeing is more popular from Gas, Plate, and Roller singeing?
Ans: Gas Singeing is more popular than plate and roller singeing.
This article is written by a guest author and reviewed, revised and edited by Tariq Bin Mutalib, Editor in Chief, TextileFact.com.