The influence of solvents, in particular benzyl alcohol, on the normal processes of wool dyeing and printing is reviewed in detail. The significance of the effect and the methods of utilising it are discussed. Consideration is given to the practical and commercial aspects of solvent‐assisted techniques for dyeing and printing wool.
The background to solvent‐assisted methods of dyeing and printing and the uses that have been found for them in practical processes in the U.K. are summarised, with particular reference to the Irga‐solvent method. In principle, the addition of a suitable solvent has the same effect as either dyeing at a higher temperature for the same time or dyeing or steaming at the same temperature for a much longer time. Wherever it is more practical to include a solvent in the dye‐liquor or printing paste rather than increase the dyeing temperature or prolong the dyeing or steaming time, then solvent‐assisted processes should be of interest.
The methods used for preparing classifications of dyes for application to wool and cotton are reviewed, and particular reference is made to the graphical representation of dyeing characteristics.
Dyeing for the tufted‐carpet trade is considered under three headings—yarn, stock or tow, and piece dyeing. Continuous and batchwise techniques are examined for most fibresused in carpets.
Interest in yarn printing was rekindled by the advent of space–printed carpets. At first, only random patterning was required but recently systems have been devised to enable complex patterns to be tufted from printed yarns. This has increased the demand for printed yarns, but it has also limited the time available for dye fixation. The main fibres of interest are nylons, acrylics and blends and, to a less extent, wool, polypropylene and viscose rayon. We have examined rates affixation and diffusion of various types of dye with variations in print paste additives and steaming times on examples of the main substrates. This type of information is needed where short steaming times are essential to avoid disturbance of pattern register.
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