Process for the printing of shaped articles derived from aramid fibers

A print paste for printing a predetermined pattern on poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide) textile fabrics consisting essentially of:

• at least 70 weight percent of a highly polar solvent poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide) fiber swelling agent adapted to swell the poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide) fiber and introduce a dyestuff therein, the highly polar solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and mixtures thereof;
• a thickening amount of a viscosity building print paste thickener that is compatible with and soluble in the polar solvent;
• a tinctorial amount of at least one organic dyestuff that is soluble in the polar solvent;
• and
• balance water in an amount of from about 5 to about 20% by weight.

A stable, homogeneous print paste for printing and dyeing a poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide) textile fabric in a predetermined pattern, the print paste consisting essentially, in percent by weight, of:

• about 70 to about 85% of a highly polar solvent adapted to swell poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide) fibers and introduce a dyestuff therein, the highly polar solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and mixtures thereof;
• a tinctorial amount of an organic dyestuff soluble in the highly polar solvent and capable of dyeing and fixing in poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide) fibers;
• a print paste thickening agent soluble in the highly polar solvent and compatible with the organic dyestuff, the thickening agent together with the other ingredients present in an amount sufficient to provide the print paste with a viscosity in the range of about 5,000 to about 36,000 cps;
• balance water in an amount of from about 5 to about 20% by weight.