Lancashire Lantern
Lancashire Lantern: Lancashire Pioneers
Part of the Lancashire Lantern network, the Pioneers gives details of people who were famous local people in science, technology and innovation. These pioneers were either born in Lancashire or their endeavours made a significant contribution to the development of the County.
John Mercer - Mercerisation
In 1844 he discovered the mercerisation process, although he did not patent it here and in America until 1851.
Mercerisation is the treatment of cotton with a strong caustic alkaline solution in order to improve the lustre, hand and other properties. It also increases the ability to absorb dye, improves the reactions with a variety of chemicals and the strength and elongation of the fibres and also improves the stability of form. Whilst other solutions are available, in practice caustic soda is generally used.
He exhibited the process at the Great Exhibition and was awarded a 'special commendation'.
The process was not utilized at the time, but once the process could be mechanised it became basic to the whole cotton manufacturing process and is still in use today.
Letter from Lyon Playfair to John Mercer concerning Mercer's gift of a 'mercerised' handkerchief to HM Queen Victoria
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(Courtesy of the Lancashire Record Office)
"Mercerisation is no passing whim, and the probability is that all the processes included under the name will become still more important branch of the textile industry than even at present"-
preface to 'Mercerisation: a practical and historical manual' by the editors of 'The Dyer and Calico Printer', Heywood, 1903
Samples of mercerisation
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Copy of 'test for action of mercerising and bleaching processes'
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Mercerisation: 'there can be no doubt that Mercer was responsible for the biggest fundamental advance that ever took place in the chemistry and technology of the processing of cellulosic material and is entitled to be regarded as the outstanding genius of the finishing section of the cotton trade'
from 'Mercerising' by JT Marsh, Chapman and Hall, 1941
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