INTRODUCTION

Maize starch is a cereal starch having low ash and protein content.  It does not thin down appreciably during the process of sizing, whereas tapioca starch breaks down substantially on cooking.  This results in an uneven pick up on the yarn.  Unlike TKP which requires steeping and long cooking time, Maize Starch is transformed into a smooth paste within an hour or in even lesser time under pressure cooking.

The uniform viscosity, from lot to lot, ensures uniform pick up and penetration into the interstices of yarn to ensure good weaving performance.  As foaming is usually associated with high pH it is not necessary to add any of the antifoaming agents while working with maize starch, because pH of Maize Starch paste is always maintained in the neutral range.  In addition to these advantages, the starch is easily removed during the normal process of desizing.

SIZING

Size is added to yarn to improve the efficiency of weaving performance and is removed in the first wet processing operation.  Since adhesive is the major ingredient of the size mix from the viewpoint of both quantity and price, its choice depends on

(a) How economically it is priced,

(b) Whether, it offers all the necessary advantages during sizing  ---- also be easily removed in the - process of desizing.

Of all the starches available commercially, Maize Starch best fulfills the above requirements.  It possesses properties superior to those of the native starches such  as Tapioca and TKP.

FINISHING

Starch is used in the textile finishing operation to change the stiffness, feel or handle of the fabrics, to modify the appearance by filling the interstices of the weave and to add weight.  Since the finish provided by starch is temporary, it use is generally confined to relatively inexpensive fabrics of to materials such as shade cloth or book binding cloth that are not washed.  Fabrics finished with starch alone are quite stiff and the finishing solutions usually contain a relatively large amount of film modifying materials.  Starch is also --- conjunction with thermoplastic or the thermosetting resins to obtain permanent finish. The composition of solutions used to modify the hand of fabric construction and fabric properties desired.  A typical formula for light weight goods.

For heavier fabrics or stiffer finishes, the amount of starch is increased.

BACK FILLING

Back filling is the process of applying a mixture of starch or starches and a filler such as talc or clay to the back of fabrics, without obscuring the weave on the face of the fabrics.  This type of finish increases the stiffness and the capacity of the fabric by filling the interstices of the weave with starch mixture.  Fabrics thus prepared are used in window shades and in binding for books.  A typical formula for back filling:

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