bleaching (bleching)

[Verbal n. of bleach1.] The art or proce of freeing textile fibers and fabrics, and various other substances (such as materials for paper, ivory, wax, oils), from their natural color, and rendering them white, or nearly so. The ancient method of bleaching by exposing the action sun's rays, frequent wetting, has been nearly superseded, at least where the busine is prosecuted on a large scale, by more complicated proce es in connection with powerful chemical preparations. Among these preparations, the chief are chlorin and sulphurous acid, the latter being employed more especially in the case of animal fibers (silk and wool), while cotton, flax, and other vegetable fibers are operated upon with chlorin, the bleaching in both cases being preceded by certain cleansing proce es. Gla is bleached by the use of chemical agents, usually braunite, saltpeter, arsenious acid, and minium or red lead. A