Definition
Carbonization is a chemical process used in textile finishing. The cellulose content in fibers is converted to a friable char by the addition of a small amount of sulfuric acid and is then removed by mechanical action — either by crushing and shaking out or by dry beating.
Use in the textile industry
Carbonization is used primarily in wool processing to remove vegetable impurities such as burrs, straw, and wood particles from raw fleece. Because wool, as a protein fiber, is largely resistant to dilute sulfuric acid while cellulose is degraded, the process is particularly well suited for cleaning coarse or heavily contaminated wool grades. It improves the processability of the material in subsequent spinning and weaving operations.
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