Surface alkali deweighting and dyeing of polyester fabric by one-bath and one-step process

Alkali-resistant disperse dyes have attracted great attention in the wet processing of polyester textiles under alkaline dyeing conditions. In the present study, three highly alkali-resistant (HA) disperse dyes were successfully applied to the simultaneous alkali deweighting and dyeing of polyester fabric by a one-bath and one-step process. Benzyl alcohol was used as a dyeing and alkali deweighting carrier. The effects of cetylpyridinium chloride, benzyl alcohol and disperse dye concentrations as well as alkali treating temperature and time on alkali deweighting and dyeing properties of polyester fabrics were studied. HA disperse dyes had excellent dyeing performance and good fastness on polyester fabrics. Normally, the washing and rubbing fastness of the dyed fabrics could reach grades 4–5. In addition, a relatively high weight loss of about 23% was reached for the treated fabrics, which could meet the requirement of the deweighting rate for silklike polyester products. These results demonstrate that the one-bath and one-step alkali deweighting and dyeing process could be successfully employed as an effective and eco-friendly alternative for the conventional two-step alkali deweighting and dyeing process applied in the dyeing and finishing industry of polyester fabrics.