Aquazym®
Products in the Aquazym® family effectively break down and remove starch-based sizing agents. They're available in a range of concentrations. Oxidative desizing methods can negatively affect the cellulose. Aquazym® products only target the starch, so don't impact the fabric strength.
Improves fabric quality
The specific enzymatic action of products in this family desizes without damaging fibers. The result is improved fabric quality.
Improves wettability
Poor wettability leads to uneven dyeing and poor batch-to-batch shade reproducibility. It also causes problems during printing. Products in this family deliver full and uniform removal of size polymers. That results in wettable fabric that can absorb the dye.
Available in wide pH and temperature ranges
The products in this family are available in a wide temperature and pH range, so you can find a product to suit your process and conditions.
Reproducible performance
The enzymatic action of products in this family is easier to control than alternative desizing methods. That helps you achieve reproducible performance.
Improves worker safety
The enzymatic products in this family allow you to eliminate harsh chemicals from your desizing process. That leads to improved worker safety at your mill.
A more sustainable solution
This product is both biodegradable and renewable. In many processes it saves water and energy. That makes it a more sustainable solution.
This product contains enzymes. While enzymes are safe to use in consumer applications, they need correct handling in working environments to ensure workers’ safety.
Indeed, repeated inhalation of enzyme dust or aerosols resulting from improper handling may induce sensitization and may cause allergic type 1 reactions in sensitized individuals.
Please follow the precautionary handling recommendations below:
- Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapors/spray
- Avoid contact with eyes, skin, or clothing
- In case of inadequate ventilation wear respiratory protection
- IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing
- If experiencing respiratory symptoms: Call a POISON CENTER or a doctor
- Store in a dry place. Store in a closed container
- Dispose of contents/containers in accordance with local regulations
For more safety information, please watch the entire series of safety videos.
Starch is the most common sizing agent in textile manufacturing. Amylases target and break down starch without harming the yarn. The result is highly efficient and effective desizing.
Textile manufacturers use a process called sizing to aid the weaving process. Size forms a coating on warp yarns. This coating helps them to withstand tension during weaving and reduce breakage. Once this process is complete, the textile needs to go through a desizing process. Desizing removes the coating before bleaching or dyeing.
For more than a century, starch has been the most common sizing agent for fabrics. Textile mills use amylase enzymes to desize woven fabrics. That's because of their highly efficient and specific action. They desize the yarn without harming it.
Starch molecules are formed of long chains of sugars. That makes them difficult to remove from the yarn. Amylases break long-chain starch molecules into short-chain dextrins. The short-chain dextrins are much easier to remove, which results in more efficient and complete desizing.