mercerize
/ˈmɜːrsəraɪz/
verb
- To treat cotton fabric or thread with a chemical (usually sodium hydroxide) to make it stronger, more lustrous, and easier to dye. (American English spelling of mercerise.)
- The company decided to mercerize all its cotton products for a premium finish.
- You can mercerize the yarn at home using a special solution.
- Many modern textile mills mercerize their cotton to improve its quality.