SOME STUDIES ON MICROWAVE COLOURATION OF TEXTILES

Abstract

In the last few years, microwave energy had found an application in textile processes, e.g. heating, dyeing, finishing, fixation and drying.

This application allows some possibilities of energy conservation, reduction of processes times and chemicals used, production increment and minimization of environmental pollution.

Accordingly, this thesis aims to study microwave dyeing of polyamide fibres (nylon-6) with acid and reactive dyes, as well as the influence of microwave irradiation on the polymer characteri sties.

To achieve this, many experiments have been carried out and the following results were obtained :

I : Influence of microwave irradiation on mechanical, chemical and physical properties of nylon-6

This part consists of studying the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of nylon fabric by using both techniques conductive and microwave heating with and without alcohols addition, namely, ethanol and/or n-butanol [(4%, v /v), as dyeing assistants].

1. Shrinkage :

In oro fugi9P· the total boil shrinka2e of nvlon fibres is ill:Sly 1 l_u"t 1 -7.5% Using microwave heatig the d gree of area shrinkage of boftea· nylon fibre in water only was found to be around 3.3% after 60 minutes, while in the case of traditional heating, it was around 6.5% also after 60 minutes.

Adding alcohols, (ethanol 4%) as dyeing assistants, it was about 3.3% after 15 minutes and 7.2% after 60 minutes; but it was 3.5 and 8.3% respectively in case of n-butanol (4%, v /v) addition.

The addition of these alcohols using conventional heating, caused a shrinkage area of 6.6 and 8.8% for both ethanol and n­ butanol after 15-60 minutes.