Burnout (devoré)
Also known as: devoré, burnout print, etched fabric
Finishing process in which one fibre in a blended fabric is chemically etched away, leaving a semi-transparent pattern of the remaining fibre.
Description
Burnout (French dévoré) is a classic finishing process used since the 1920s to create sheer patterns on blended fabrics. On a textile made of two chemically different fibres - typically cotton + polyester, viscose + silk or wool + silk - a paste with a strong acid (usually aluminium sulphate) is partially printed.
On subsequent heating the acid completely decomposes the cellulose fibre (cotton, viscose) while the synthetic or animal fibre (polyester, silk, wool) remains intact. After the residues are washed out, semi-transparent zones appear consisting of the remaining fibre, while the untreated areas stay dense. The result is a three-dimensional pattern effect.
Burnout looks are especially popular in women's T-shirts, blouses, scarves and the vintage fashion world. Important for the textile trade: burnout goods are delicate - hand wash or delicate cycle, no tumble drying. Because the cellulose fibre is missing, the tear strength in the burnt-out areas drops significantly.
Properties
| Issuer | Not a label - finishing technique since ca. 1920 |
|---|---|
| Scope | Chemical etching of one fibre out of a blended fabric |
| Label | Semi-transparent patterns on blended fabric (CO/PES, VI/SE) |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Wikipedia: Devoré Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devor%C3%A9
- Wikipedia: Textile printing Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textile_printing
