Waterless dip dye composition and method of use thereof for synthetic articles

Abstract

A waterless dip dye composition for non-textile and general-utility articles comprises an aromatic ester of the formula ArCOOR.sub.2, ArCOO--R.sub.1 --OOCAr or (ArCOO).sub.z --R.sub.3, wherein R.sub.1 is alkylene of 2-8 carbon atoms or polyoxyalkylene of the formula --C.sub.r H.sub.2r (OC.sub.r H.sub.2r).sub.s, in which r is 2 or 3 and s is 1 to 15; R.sub.2 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkenyl of 8-30 carbon atoms; R.sub.3 is the residue of a polyhydric alcohol having z hydroxyl groups; Ar is substituted or unsubstituted mono- or bicyclic aryl of up to 15 carbon atoms and z is 3-6, admixed with at least 0.5% by weight of a dyeing assistant agent and an organic colorant. A process for coloring non-textile and general-utility articles, fabricated from polyester, polyamide, polyurethane, acrylic, halogenated polyolefin or epoxy plastic, comprises exposing an article to the foregoing compositions, maintained at a temperature from about 100.degree. C. to the temperature at which the plastic degrades, for a time adequate to achieve the desired degree of coloration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.