What is Bleach Wash?
Bleach wash is the process which is done by using strong oxidative bleaching agent. In bleach wash, bleach chemical is used in water while washing in a tumble washer. Strict washing time is a requirement with such a wash, otherwise the garment may be overbleached and the color cannot be reversed.
Bleach wash refers to light blue shades of denim. The additional step is bleaching to stone wash. A bleach is a chemical that removes colors or whitens, often via oxidation. In industry, most widely used chemicals are sodium hypo-chlorite, calcium hypo-chlorite, hydrogen per oxide and potassium permangate.
Bleach Wash Process of Garments:
A process of bleach wash of 60 kg batch of Denim Long Pant as mentioned below:
First Step: Pre-treatment/Desizing
- Batch size………………….. 60 kg Denim Long Pant.
- Add water @ L: R = 1: 9………….. 540 liters.
- Start the machine.
- Temperature……………….. 60°C
- Add Desizing agent @ 0.6 gm / liter ………… 324 gm.
- Add Detergent / Antistain @ 1 gm / liter….. 540 gm.
- Time………………………….. 15 to 25 mts.
- Drop the liquor.
Second Step: Hot Wash
- Add water @ L: R = 1: 9………….. 540 liters.
- Temperature………………………………… 60°C.
- Time…………………………………………… 5 mts.
Third Step: Bleaching
- Add water @ L: R = 1: 8………….. 480 liters.
- Machine running.
- Add bleaching powder (k.c.i) @ 10 gm/liter.. 4800 Gms.
- Add soda ash @ 5 gm/liter …………………………. 2400 Gms.
- Temperature…………………………………………………… 60°C.
- Time (Depend upon the shade)……………….. 12 to 15 mts.
- Drop the liquor.
- Rinse twice, each 3 minutes.
Fourth Step: Neutral Wash
- Add water @ L: R = 1: 9…………………….. 540 liters.
- Add sodium hyposulphite @ 3 gm/liter ……. 1620 Gms.
- Temperature ………………………………………………… 40°C.
- Time (Depend upon the shade)………….. 10 to 12 mts.
- Drop the liquor.
- Rinse one.
Fifth Step: Soft Wash
- Add water @ L: R = 1: 8………….. 480 liters.
- Add Acetic Acid @ 0.6 gm/liter ………………… 288 Gms.
- Cationic softener @ 1 gm/liter …………………… 480 Gms.
- Time………………………….. 5 mts.
- Drop the liquor.
- Unload the garments to trolley.
Sixth Step: Hydroextractor Machine
Hydroextraction the garment to remove excess water from the washed garments.
Seventh Step: Drying Machine
- Load 40 kg garments
- Set temperature ……………. 75°C to 85°C.
- Time ……………………. 35 to 40 mts.
- Time ………………… 10 minutes in cold dry.
Eighth Step: Delivery
After quality checking garment will be delivery.
Advantages of Bleach Wash:
- Producing special effects on garments.
- Enhance the beauty of garments.
- Can attract the buyers easily.
- Huge demand to the young generation.
- Trends in the market
Disadvantages of Bleach Wash:
- Yellowing effect can be produced.
- Too much harmful for human health.
- Can produce shade variation.
- This process is difficult to control.
- Needed antichlor treatment.
- Causes corrosion
- It is one of the sources of environmental pollution.
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