Effect of the dyeing process on thermal and dyeing properties of poly(butylene terephthalate) fibers

Abstract

A medium- and low-temperature disperse dye was applied as a dyeing material for poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) fibers using a cost-effective and scalable approach. The relationship between the dyeing process and thermal or dyeing properties, such as the dye uptake percentage and color fastness properties, was systematically investigated. Interestingly, with the increase of the C. I. Disperse Red 167 concentration from 2% o.w.f. (on weight of fiber) to 5% o.w.f. and dyeing temperature, the dyed PBT fibers correspondingly gained better color strength (28.7), an indication of a suitable dye uptake of 93.15%. Furthermore, the incorporation of the dye into PBT fibers improved the decomposition temperature and melting or crystallization temperature, and the storage modulus was higher than that of undyed PBT fibers using this simple approach. Therefore, these promising results would be a significant component to enhance or regulate the significant thermal stability of PBT fibers in the dyeing field. Also, they would go a long way to support the idea that the present approach is useful for further industrialization of the dyeing process because of its low cost and suitability for a large-scale process.