Cottonisation

Cottonisation is a further degumming process that decreases the lignin and pectin content of the fibres from a post-hackling content of 8-10% to approximately 0.2%. A typical process involves boiling the pretreated fibres in an acid bath for an hour at 50°C, followed by an alkaline bath at a temperature of 100°C for three hours. The final step is a combing and drying procedure. After this treatment, the fibres increase in softness but also lose some of their characteristics in terms of strength and rigidity. This process is performed to allow the fibres to be spun by cotton-optimised machinery and to adapt them to meet customer demand for a soft fabric feel.