"Gasiert" / "mercerized": What does that mean?

Dear users, dear authors,
what does “gasiert / mercerized” mean?

Mercerized cotton takes on a beautiful sheen; the mercerization process occurs when the cotton is stretched taut and held in place, which is intended to prevent the cotton from shrinking. It’s a common finishing treatment for cotton fibers. That’s how I remember it from when I had to learn about it :-)

Mercerization : A finishing process for cotton that uses caustic soda and tension. This makes the fibers smoother and finer, gives them a beautiful sheen, makes them easier and more uniform to dye, and also makes them slightly more durable; less dye is needed for the process. The caustic soda is then neutralized.
Downside : A lot of water is needed for neutralization. There are always two sides to everything....

Singeing: Protruding fibers on yarns and fabrics are singed off. This also results in a smoother surface. For fabrics that are to be printed, this creates a clearer print image. Or it helps sewing machine threads glide more easily through the needle’s eye...

Thanks for your information :-)