Humidity is something that most of us deal with on a fairly regular basis. We all know that it can make us uncomfortable and hot, although sometimes it can feel nice. In the same way that humidity causes your hair to frizz and your makeup to run, it also affects paper and textile products. This is why top quality textile plants and printing facilities will invest in a humidity control system to ensure that their merchandise is not affected by weather. Read on for more information on how humidity can affect these industries.
Textile Processing
Believe it or not, humidity plays a massive role in textile processing. If the level in the facility is wrong, it can actually stop production, harm staff, and damage machinery. If you get it right, however, you’ll be able to increase machine speeds, maximize product weights, and improve quality. Why does humidity affect textiles so much? The answer lies in the fact that all textiles are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb or release moisture depending on the humidity of the surrounding air. This means that moisture can seep into the textiles and affect the fibers.
A Delicate Balance
When moisture enters the textiles, it directly affects its properties like tensile strength, fiber diameter, and elasticity. There is a balance, however, because if the humidity is too low, the textile may become weaker, thinner, and more brittle. Brittle fabrics have more imperfections. A humidity control system will prevent this loss of moisture and improve the performance of the material.
Printing Facilities
Knowledgeable printers will tell you that controlling humidity is very important in their day to day business. Paper, by nature, is dimensionally unstable and very susceptible to both temperature and humidity. Paper is subjected to different temperatures throughout the printing process, from storage to the pressroom and beyond.
Dry air can cause paper to lose its natural moisture, which makes it pick up static electricity. This can lead to wrinkling, losing register, and paper feed jams. To combat these negative effects, printers do a number of small thing that actually have big effects, like waiting to unwrap paper until the room is the right temperature and covering papers with plastic.
