Method for moisture conditioning of compressively treated fabric

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a finishing treatment for fabrics, either tubular or knitted, having at least some natural fiber content, where the fabrics have been given a compressive shrinkage treatment by an asymmetrical process, sometimes referred to herein as 'burnish compacting', in which one side of the fabric is acted upon differently than the other. The process of the invention eliminate or minimize 'two sidedness' in the appearance of the fabric, which otherwise can be particularly noticeable with respect to colored fabrics. After passing through an asymmetrical compressive shrinkage process, the fabric is conveyed in a tension free manner through a moisturizing station, in which moisture is sprayed on the opposite surfaces of the fabric in the form of an extremely fine fog or mist, in quantities greater than the natural moisture regain of the fabric after compacting. The thus-moisturized fabric immediately enters a so-called Palmer-type dryer, in which the fabric is held against a steam-heated drum by means of a porous blanket. Significant improvement in the opposite side uniformity of the fabric is obtainable by the process.