Ultraviolet stability of aramid and aramid-blend fabrics by pigment dyeing or printing

Abstract

A process for improving the ultraviolet stability of aramid and aramid-blend fabrics by pigment printing or padding the fabrics. The pigment printing process comprises the steps of supplying an aramid textile fabric free of highly polar solvents and dye diffusion promoting agents; pigment printing the fabric by applying onto the fabric a print paste comprising pigment, binder, print paste thickener, and water, the print paste being substantially free of carriers; and drying, then curing the thus-treated fabric at a temperature and for a time sufficient to fix the pigment on the aramid fibers. The padding process comprises the steps of supplying an aramid textile fabric; padding the fabric by soaking in a padding liquor comprising pigment, binder, and water, the padding liquor being substantially free of carriers; and then passing the wet fabric through two rollers to remove excess padding liquor from the fabric; and drying, then curing the thus-treated fabric at a temperature and for a time sufficient to fix the pigment on the aramid fibers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.