Enzymes are the best way to desize cotton fabrics without fibre damage. Ever since 1952, Novozymes has been supplying enzymes for this application.
Although many different compounds have been used to size fabrics over the years, starch has been the most common sizing agent for more than a century and this is still the case today.
After weaving, the size must be removed to prepare the fabric for the finishing steps of bleaching or dyeing. Starch-splitting enzymes (amylases) are used for desizing woven fabrics because of their highly efficient and specific way of desizing without damaging the yarn.
Novozymes' product range includes medium as well as high-temperature desizing amylases in various standard strengths. One can choose from Aquazym (20-70°C), Aquazym Ultra (60-90°C) or Termamyl (85-115°C). They ensure the complete removal of all types of size based on starch whether in native or modified form.
As an example, desizing on a jigger is a simple method where the fabric from one roll is processed in a bath and rewound on another roll. First, the sized fabric is washed in hot water (80-95°C) to gelatinize the starch. The desizing liquor is then adjusted to pH 5.5-7.5 and a temperature of 60-80°C depending on the enzyme. Aquazym or Aquazym Ultra is added at the impregnation stage and degraded starch in the form of dextrins is then removed by washing at 90-95°C for two minutes.
The jigger process is a batch process. In contrast, in modern continuous high-speed processes, the reaction time for the enzyme may be as little as 15 seconds. With the high-temperature amylase Termamyl, desizing reactions can be performed in steam chambers at 95-100°C or more making a fully continuous process possible.

The BASF range of performance chemicals for textiles includes products and concepts for sizing, pre-treatment, optical brightening, dyeing, printing, coating, finishing, and digital textile printing. .
Lutexal® GP ECOis a new product for maximum quality in pigment printing. Last year in May 2003, BASF organized a seminar in Karachi on Textile Printing Technology. The presentations focussed on the New powder thickener for pigment printing: Lutexal® GP ECO for high contour definition.
The new BASF thickener Lutexal® GP ECO is reported to ensure sharply outlined pigment prints as well as higher production reliability, lower overall costs and superior environmental performance.
This powdered, eco-friendly thickener has already proved very successful in plant trials because of its characteristic surface-printing effect and particularly good contour definition, which ensure good running properties and brighter, more brilliant hues. Lutexal® GP ECO creates the right conditions for optimum fastness on both natural and synthetic fibres. In addition, the product's powerful thickening action reduces print penetration, so that considerably less print paste is consumed. The high stability to electrolytes keeps viscosity fluctuations to a minimum, increasing the reproducibility of the printing process and the right-first-time rate. Lutexal® GP ECO therefore significantly improves the stability and effectiveness of the printing process.
Another persuasive argument for using the powder thickener - actually in the form of microgranules - is that it produces much lower emission values than conventional liquid thickeners. Powder thickeners are simply much better environmentally than liquid ones as they contain only traces of hydrocarbons and therefore have only a very slight impact on air and waste water. As a result, the printing process conforms to the specifications of the German standard TA-Luft, and textiles printed with Lutexal® GP ECO easily fulfil the requirements of Öko-Tex Standard 100.

Special hydrophilic polyurethane preparation, nonionic. Bioisoftal N is a special product for permanently improving the hydrophilicity and the moisture transport on hydrophobic fibres such as polyester and polyamide. Due to the quick transport of the moisture away from the skin, the drying time is reduced and this the wearing comfort increased.
The treated materials have a soft, dry and velvet-like handle. Biosoftal N is applied by the padding method on all kinds of articles. The product is resistant to yellowing and to sublimation. Biosoftal N can be combined with cationic and anionic products. The sewability and the gliding properties when boarding are improved and the tendency to pilling is reduced.