Strengthening and Accelerating Chemicals

There are many different ways of accelerating chemicals to make them stronger and react faster. Proper acceleration will aid in removal of staining when the weaker version of the chemical previously did not work. It must also be noted that improper acceleration can not only discolor fabrics but cause fabrics to deteriorate. When cellulose fibers come in contact with strong chemicals with rapid acceleration it causes the fiber to deteriorate. Such deterioration is referred to as oxy-cellulose. It is therefore important when strengthening chemicals proper testing must be done. Even white fabrics should be tested. Fluorescent dyes can be adversely affected by strong chemicals.

CHEMICAL STRENGTH

It is important to know the strength of the chemical you are using. For example, most liquid chlorine bleaches are 5.25% while powdered chlorine is stronger. Full strength chlorine bleach is too strong for most fabrics. Chlorine bleach must never be used on protein fibers such as wool and silk. Sodium perborate and sodium percarbonate come mixed with many wetcleaning detergents. Using pure perborate or percarbonate is a stronger product than those mixed into detergents.

LIGHT

Many cleaners overlook the fact that light produces energy. When light comes into contact with a chemical it produces heat. Light in the form of visible and invisible infrared accelerates chemical. The rays of sunlight accelerate chemicals even more. When chemicals are exposed to light the chemicals are accelerated by a transfer of energy. We have been successful in applying hydrogen peroxide to a stain and allow it to work by exposing it to ordinary light. Even enzymes applied to a fabric and hung exposed to light will work better then when placed in a dark room. Garments bleached in an open pail which is exposed to light will work better than if the pail were closed. Further experimentation in my laboratory has shown that close contact with lamplight or long exposure to sunlight produces enough heat to burn a fabric.

CHEMICAL ACCELERATION

Some chemicals will make the chemical reaction more rapid and stronger.

• Hydrogen peroxide-accelerated by ammonia or any protein formula.
• Sodium perborate and sodium percarbonate-accelerated by ammonia and protein formula.
• Sodium hypochlorite-accelerated by acids.
• Sodium hydrosulphite-accelerated by acids.
• Titanium stripper-accelerated by acids. Although rust remover turns it colorless, it is still accelerated.
• Sodium bisulphate-accelerated by acids.

HEAT

Heat will accelerate chemicals. Every 18°F rise in temperature doubles the chemical action A rise in temperature from 100°F to 118°F will make the chemical twice as strong and work twice as fast.

RAPID NEUTRALIZATION

This is the reaction of different chemicals that neutralize other chemicals. For example-if I put an alkali on a fabric and did not rinse it and then added an acid it would neutralize the reaction drastically. It produces a great amount of heat which adds to the chemical reaction. If I added sodium hypochlorite and then added a reducing bleach such as sodium hydrosulphite it would also cause a strong reaction.

MAKING CHEMICALS SAFE TO USE

There are instances when you do not want to accelerate or speed up the chemical reaction. In this case I would dilute the chemical to a safe concentration and use cool water for activation. In correcting dye bleeding on colored fabrics, we would dilute the strength of the chemical and pre-test it on an unexposed seam before use.