When Flash Curing a Shirt, What is that Odor (and Smoke)?

You are experiencing “sizing burn-off." When flash curing,
unpleasant fumes are often released into the work area from the shirt
during the heating process. Most shirts are treated with “sizing” agents
to increase the weight, crispness, and luster of the shirt. When heat
from the flash unit is applied to the shirt, these sizing agents begin
to “burn off,” creating a characteristic odor.  When you first
experience this, you will most likely become alarmed thinking that the
shirt is “burning up,” but it is only the sizing being eliminated from
the shirt. The best way to control this problem is to keep a fan
operating nearby to blow the sizing fumes away from the work area. The
sizing burn-off problem will be most apparent when flashing fleece
(sweatshirts, sweatpants), and certain colors of dark shirts, e.g.
(forest green and royal blue shirts).

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