Methods and systems to dye textile materials with dye blend compositions having differential dye exhaust rates

Abstract

Processes and apparatus for dyeing a textile product are provided whereby an undyed textile product is introduced into a substantially anaerobic dyeing chamber having an oxygen content of less than 1000 ppm oxygen therein, and at least two dye mixtures having a differential dye exhaustion rate of at least 10% are applied onto the textile product within the substantially anaerobic dying chamber. Thereafter the dyed textile product may be exposed to an oxygen-containing atmosphere so as to oxidize the applied dyes. At least one of the dyes may have a dye exhaustion rate of at least about 25%, or even at least about 50%. The embodiments herein are especially adapted to dyeing of textile products whereby one dye in the at least two dye mixtures is a sulfur dye and another dye in the at least two dye mixtures is a leuco indigo dye.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.