Greige Fabric Storage Requirements and Preservation Standards
Unfinished greige fabric preservation demands humidity control between 50 and 65 percent relative humidity to prevent size retrogradation and oil oxidation.
Spin Finish Oxidation
Chemical Degradation
Synthetic fiber manufacturing requires the application of protective lubricants that are susceptible to heat and atmospheric exposure over time. This chemical breakdown is known as spin finish oxidation, and it occurs when the unsaturated fatty acids or polyols in the finish react with oxygen. The reaction forms hydroperoxides and polymerizes the lubricant into a sticky, insoluble varnish, which cannot be easily removed during standard preparation.
This degradation of the protective coating can severely compromise yarn processing during subsequent winding and knitting, especially in delicate micro-denier yarns.
Frictional Alteration
Oxidized finish oils lose their lubricating properties, which increases yarn-to-metal friction during high-speed texturing. This increased friction raises yarn tension, which can lead to frequent thread breaks and uneven crimp development. The oxidized deposits also accumulate on yarn guides and tension disks, creating abrasive crusts that scratch the passing fibers.
This degradation in turn reduces the efficiency of downstream knitting and weaving equipment.
Fabric Discoloration
The chemical products generated during this reaction often cause yellowing of the stored yarn or raw fabric. When spin finish oxidation occurs, the resulting carbonyl compounds act as chromophores that discolor the fiber, particularly under warm storage conditions. These yellow patches are frequently resistant to standard scouring processes, leading to permanent shade variation after dyeing.
This discoloration is a common cause of garment panel rejection in dyehouses.
Storage Mitigation
Preventing this degradation involves adding antioxidant compounds to the spin finish formulation and controlling warehouse temperatures. In addition, processing yarn within a defined time frame after extrusion prevents the lubricant from aging excessively. Mills that monitor these storage limits avoid the performance drop associated with degraded surface finishes.