Method for producing a pigmented polymer material

A method for dyeing a polymer material with an aqueous pigment or dye composition containing at least one pigment or dye dispersed therein, wherein the polymer material is a blend comprising a first polymer composition and a second polymer composition which is compatible with the first polymer composition, which second polymer composition comprises a binding agent for the at least one pigment or dye, wherein the binding agent comprises:

• a) a copolymer, wherein the copolymer has a polyolefin backbone, including a backbone of ethylene, and further comprises acrylic or methacrylic ester and maleic anhydride or an alkyl (meth)acrylate/maleic anhydride copolymer;
• b) a terpolymer;
• or
• c) a polymer containing amine terminated polyamide moieties, including an amine terminated polyamide;
• wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• heating the polymer material to an activation temperature below the softening temperature of the polymer material,
• contacting the polymer material with the aqueous pigment or dye composition at a contact temperature for a period of time sufficient to form a pigmented or dyed polymer material,
• subjecting the pigmented or dyed polymer material to a fixation step to fixate the at least one pigment or dye therein by cooling the pigmented or dyed polymer material to a fixation temperature which is lower than the temperature at which contacting of the polymer material with the aqueous pigment or dye composition is carried out.