Burlington Industries, Inc.

Robert S Craycroft

Tina V Lorenzo

John H Hansen

James K Davis

Earnest J Russell

Textile fabrics such as polyester, nylon and high-tenacity nylon are continuously dyed using a non-aqueous dye composition at elevated temperatures in an air atmosphere. The non-aqueous dye composition consisting of high-boiling, nonionic solvent and a dye, is applied to the textile in an air atmosphere at a temperature below 280.degree. F. then, while the dye composition is entrained in the fabric, the fabric is heated also in an ambient atmosphere to effective dyeing. Non-reactive environments or inert temperatures are not required.

Process for rapid dyeing from entrained compositions of high-boiling

Textiles, especially polyester, nylon and high-tenacity nylon, are continuously dyed in an organic medium containing a high-boiling, nonionic solvent admixed with one or more lower-boiling organic solvents and at least one dyestuff dissolved in the solvent media. The lower-boiling solvent acts as a carrier to entrain the dye and allows the dye to enter the fiber evenly. The non-aqueous dyestuff medium allows the process to be conducted above the boiling point of water which facilitates dye penetration into the fiber and, in turn, shortens the dyeing process. Atmospheric pressure may be used, thus avoiding the constraints of a batch-type operation of pressurized dyeing procedures, as is conventionally used in this art. Fabric may be dyed in open width under restraint at elevated temperatures thereby achieving uniform coloring of the fabric without shade variations from end-to-end or 'tailing'. Dyeing the fabric at elevated temperatures with dimensional control allows the fabric to be heatset simultaneously with the dyeing.

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Sophia, NC, United States of America

Robert S Craycroft