Process for enhancing the dyed appearance of a microdenier fabric
AssigneeMilliken & Company
InventorsHeather J. Hayes, Crystal A. Garner, Kirkland W. Vogt, Kaushal Gandhi
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Abstract
In a preferred embodiment, the present process involves subjecting a fabric comprised of conjugate yarns to an acidic treatment, which degrades a portion of one component of the conjugate yarns and to dyeing. The acid treatment, given certain reaction kinetics, removes a portion of the polyamide element of the conjugate filament. The at least partial removal of the polyamide component results in a fabric has enhanced dyed appearance, especially when dyed a dark shade. In an alternate embodiment, the fabric may also be treated with a basic solution to improve its moisture transport properties.
Claims78
A process for improving the dyed appearance of a microdenier fabric, said microdenier fabric being comprised of conjugate filaments that are longitudinally separable into elementary filaments and having at least a first elementary filament material and a second elementary filament material, wherein said first filament material is susceptible to degradation by a degrading solution and said second filament material is substantially resistant to degradation by a degrading solution, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) subjecting the microdenier fabric to the degrading solution for a determinate time and then rinsing, wherein the degrading solution degrades at least a portion of said first filament material;
- and
- (b) dyeing said second elementary filament material of the microdenier fabric.
A process for improving the dyed appearance of a microdenier fabric, said microdenier fabric being comprised of conjugate filaments that are longitudinally separable into elementary filaments and having at least a first elementary filament material and a second elementary filament material, wherein said first filament material is susceptible to acid degradation and said second filament material is substantially resistant to acid degradation, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) subjecting the microdenier fabric to an acid-containing solution for a determinate time and then rinsing, wherein the acid-containing solution degrades at least a portion of said first filament material;
- and
- (b) dyeing said second elementary filament material of the microdenier fabric.
A process for improving the dyed appearance of a microdenier fabric, said microdenier fabric being comprised of conjugate filaments that are longitudinally separable into elementary filaments and having at least a first elementary filament material and a second elementary filament material, wherein said first filament material is susceptible to a first degrading solution and said second filament material is substantially resistant to the first degrading solution and is susceptible a second degrading solution, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) subjecting the microdenier fabric to the first degrading solution for a first determinate time and then rinsing, wherein the degrading solution degrades at least a portion of said first filament material;
- (b) dyeing said second filament material of the microdenier fabric.
- (c) Scouring the dyed microdenier fabric.
The process of claim 56 wherein said first elementary filament material is nylon 6.
A process for improving the dyed appearance of a nonwoven fabric, said microdenier fabric being comprised of continuous conjugate filaments that are longitudinally separable into elementary filaments and having at least a first elementary filament material and a second elementary filament material, wherein said first filament material is susceptible to a first degrading solution and said second filament material is substantially resistant to the first degrading solution and is susceptible a second degrading solution, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) subjecting the microdenier fabric to the first degrading solution for a first determinate time and then rinsing, wherein the degrading solution degrades at least a portion of said first filament material;
- (b) dyeing said second filament material of the microdenier fabric.
- (c) scouring the dyed microdenier fabric.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.