Letter from Lyon Playfair to John Mercer concerning Mercer's gift of a 'mercerised' handkerchief to HM Queen Victoria
(Click to enlarge)
(Courtesy of the Lancashire Record Office) |
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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. |
