Process for the dyeing of fibre material

A batch process for the exhaustion dyeing of textile fibers, in a closed container, comprising the steps of first applying to the textile fibers in the container a non-thickened aqueous dye liquor which will not foam at the dyeing temperature, consisting essentially of

• (a) A water-soluble of water-dispersible dyestuff having affinity for the textile fibers,
• (b) 0.2 to 10 g/l of a nonionic, surface-active agent, having a cloud point below 85.degree. C., selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide-fatty amine adducts, ethylene oxide-fatty alcohol adducts and ethylene oxide-alkyl phenol adducts, wherein each mole of adduct contains 4 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide, and
• (c) water,
• at goods-to-liquor ratio of 1:1.5 to 1:2.5 and at a temperature below the absorption temperature of the dyestuff, subsequently sealing the container and shaking or tumbling the textile fibers and applied aqueous dye liquor sufficiently to evenly distribute the aqueous dye liquor on the textile fibers while still maintaining the temperature below the absorption temperature of the dyestuff, and finally heating the aqueous dye liquor and the textile fibers in the container at a temperature in the range of 95.degree. to 140.degree. C. to exhaust the dyestuff onto the textile fibers.