Geoffrey William Collins

The dyeing of conventional and microfibre nylon 6.6 with reactive disperse dyes

Abstract The dyeing and wash-fastness characteristics of three monoazo reactive disperse dyes and one monoazo disperse dye on both conventional and microfibre Nylon 6.6 have been examined. Application at 95° C and pH 8 yielded optimum colour strength for the reactive disperse dyes on both types of fibre. The presence of a commercial dispersing agent in the dyebath enhanced the levelness, but did not markedly reduce the colour strength of dyeings achieved using each of the three reactive disperse dyes on both conventional and microfibre Nylon 6.6. The excellent build-up profiles obtained for the three reactive disperse dyes were in sharp contrast to the poor build-up profile secured for the disperse dye on both substrates; this was attributed to the covalent reaction of the reactive disperse dyes having promoted dye uptake. The three reactive disperse dyes exhibited excellent wash-fastness on both conventional and microfibre Nylon 6.6, the level of fastness achieved being identical on both types of fibre.