DyStar wins SDC innovation award

DyStar wins SDC innovation award

Keywords: Dyes, Colors technology, Innovation

The British Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) presented DyStar with the“SDC Innovation in Colour Award 2004” for the development of the electrochemical dyeing process (Plate 1). This accolade recognises the environmental benefits and controlled coloration from this new dyeing method.

 Plate 1Left to right: Dr Wolfgang Schrott, DyStar's Electro-chemistry Project Manager, Dr Thomas Bechthold, Dornbirn Textile Institute, Peter Collishaw, Head of Technical Marketing Cellulosics & Printing at DyStar and SDC President Dr Brian Glover

DyStar is developing the electrochemical dyeing process in collaboration with the University of Innsbruck's Institute for Textile Chemistry and Textile Pshysics in Dornbirn, Austria, and machinery manufacturer Thies of Coesfeld,Germany. This new technology is suitable for Indanthren vat dyes, Indigo and Cassulfon sulphur dyes. While conventional dyeing methods use non-regenerative reducing agents, electrochemical dyeing is based on an electric current and a regenerative Fe2+/Fe3+ redox system (mediator). Dyeing is controlled by monitoring the redox potential of the dye liquor. This method therefore minimises the use of reducing agents. Alongside the patent for electrochemical dyeing, DyStar hold basic patents for electro-chemical bleaching and decolorisation of textile effluent.

The SDC award has been presented annually since 2000 for innovations in textile coloration. The SDC stipulates that the EUR 2,500 prize money must be spent on education or research in the field of color.