CN111801461A

CN111801461A - Method and device for dyeing synthetic fibres, dyed fibres and fabrics containing same

Info

Publication number: CN111801461A
Application number: CN201880090723.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 艾哈迈德·塞尔哈特·卡拉杜曼; 艾斯·根; 德里亚·阿斯兰; 法特玛·木泽延·帕拉迪; 哈米特·耶尼西; 穆尼维尔·艾特克·艾维斯
Original assignee: Calik Denim Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Calik Denim Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2018-01-23
Filing date: 2018-01-23
Publication date: 2020-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-23
Also published as: WO2019145020A1; AU2018404838A1; MX2020007770A; BR112020015051A2; JP7171742B2; EP3743555A1; JP2021517610A; AU2018404838B2; CA3089261A1; US20210032805A1; CN111801461B

Abstract

A process for dyeing, in particular vat dyeing or coating, of: synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a plurality of fibers comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or at least one yarn, in particular a plurality of yarns, comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or at least one fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or at least one yarn comprising or consisting of at least one yarn, in particular a plurality of yarns, comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; and b1) providing at least one pulverulent dye or pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, or at least one aqueous dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation; c1) providing an aqueous system comprising at least one lipase, in particular a lipase from a candida species; and d1) pretreating the plurality of fibers or the one yarn or the plurality of yarns or the fabric with an aqueous system comprising the at least one lipase, in particular a lipase from a candida species, and e1) coating or dyeing the pretreated plurality of fibers or the pretreated one yarn or plurality of yarns or the pretreated fabric with the at least one pulverulent dye or the pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, or with the at least one aqueous dye preparation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation; or b2) providing at least one powdered dye or powdered precursor dye, in particular a powdered leuco dye, or providing at least one aqueous dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation, c2) providing an aqueous system comprising nanoscale polyurethane particles, at least one crosslinking agent and at least one wetting agent, and d2) pretreating the plurality of fibers or the one yarn or the plurality of yarns or the fabric, in particular the fabric, with the aqueous system comprising the nanoscale polyurethane particles, at least one crosslinking agent and at least one wetting agent; and e2) coating or dyeing the pretreated multiplicity of fibers, or the pretreated yarn or multiplicity of yarns, or the pretreated textile, with the at least one pulverulent dye or the pulverulent precursor dye, in particular pulverulent leuco dye, or with the at least one aqueous dye preparation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular basic aqueous leuco dye preparation; or b3) providing at least one powdered dye or powdered precursor dye, in particular a powdered leuco dye, or providing at least one aqueous dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation, c3) providing an aqueous system comprising at least one base, in particular an alkali metal hydroxide, more in particular potassium hydroxide, and optionally at least one wetting agent, and d3) pretreating the plurality of fibers or the one yarn or the plurality of yarns or the fabric, in particular the plurality of fibers, one yarn or a plurality of yarns, with the aqueous system comprising the at least one base and optionally at least one wetting agent; and e3) coating or dyeing the pretreated multiplicity of fibers, or the pretreated yarn or multiplicity of yarns, or the pretreated textile with the at least one pulverulent dye or the pulverulent precursor dye, in particular pulverulent leuco dye, or with the at least one aqueous dye preparation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular basic aqueous leuco dye preparation.

Description

Method and device for dyeing synthetic fibres, dyed fibres and fabrics containing same

The present invention relates to a method and a device for dyeing synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, as well as to fibers and fabrics containing or consisting of dyed fibers, wherein the fibers are obtained or obtainable according to any of the methods of the present invention, in particular using any of the dyeing devices of the present invention.

Jeans are typically made of a cotton warp knit fabric, with the weft passing under two or more warps. It may have a twill construction of 1/2 or 2/1 or 3/1 and be woven in diagonal lines, i.e., the twill weave will produce diagonal ribs. Whereas the warp threads, which generally form the outer layer, are usually dyed, usually indigo, the weft threads, which form the inner side of the fabric, remain white. Also, with the normal indigo dyeing process, the core of the warp yarn is still white, while the outer layer is colored. This phenomenon is called ring staining. Since indigo itself is insoluble in water (990. mu.g/L at 25 ℃), its reduced water-soluble form, leuco-indigo (Leuko-indigo), is used in the dyeing step. However, in most cases, even indigo in leuco form has a rather low affinity to the fiber material to be dyed, and therefore requires many repeated treatment steps. In actual use, indigo is reduced to leuco indigo under alkaline conditions with sodium dithionite. Depending on the pH of the aqueous system, leuco indigo can occur in monoanionic form, which is present at a pH of about 11, or in dianionic form, and has better ring dyeing properties due to less pronounced penetration characteristics. The oxidation of air changes the yellow leuco indigo back to blue indigo.

In normal use, abrasion causes the indigo ring dyed threads to fade, thereby providing the well-known "in use" effect of denim fabrics. The abrasion or fading can be achieved by low wash fastness, general light fastness and low dry and/or wet rub fastness.

However, on the one hand, since sodium dithionite is sensitive to atmospheric oxygen, an excess of bisulfite should be present in the dyeing bath, which has also been observed to possibly lead to irregular dyeing. Typically, the indigo concentration in such a dye vat does not exceed 80 g/L.

To improve the dyeing properties, the fibers usually have to be subjected to a pretreatment step, such as prewetting, bottom dyeing or washing.

Although indigo-dyed denim fabrics are usually made of cotton fibers, attempts have also been made to make blue denim-like fabrics from synthetic fibers. Colored synthetic fibers can be obtained by the so-called virgin pulp (dope) dyeing process. Using the virgin pulp dyeing process, the dye, most often in the form of a colored masterbatch, is mixed with a molten polymer to form a synthetic fiber, which is then extruded through a spinneret to produce synthetic filaments. Virgin pulp dyeing provides synthetic fibers that are uniformly colored throughout the cross-section of the filament. Therefore, the fading characteristics characteristic of indigo-dyed denim fabrics cannot be obtained with virgin pulp-dyed synthetic fibers.

Since synthetic fibers, yarns or fabrics having fading characteristics characteristic of indigo-dyed denim fabrics cannot be obtained using virgin pulp dyeing, attempts have been made to dye cotton fibers, yarns or fabrics using conventional devices to color the fibers, yarns or fabrics. Fig. 1 schematically shows such a conventional apparatus. In which the fibre, yarn or fabric is conveyed by the rotating drum through a plurality of stations starting from an accumulator station 1, followed in sequence by a calender 3, a washing station 5, a ventilation station 7, three washing stations 5, a cascade of eight dyeing stations 19 (each dyeing station being followed by a ventilation station 7), a washing station 5, a ventilation station 7, a washing station 5, a hot air ventilation station 117, three washing stations 5, a drying station 11 and a sizing station 13.

It has been found that dyeing of synthetic fibres, yarns or fabrics with indigo using such conventional equipment results in, on the one hand, a small amount of dye being absorbed by the fibre, yarn or fabric in the dyeing station 19 and, on the other hand, the majority of the absorbed dye being washed away in the washing station 5, so that the fading of the colour is much higher than that which is typical of indigo-dyed denim fabrics. Further, the conventional apparatus as shown in fig. 1 requires a large production area, which increases the manufacturing cost. Furthermore, the large number and variety of stations increases the complexity of the apparatus, resulting in high manufacturing costs.

There is a need for an apparatus that can be used to make colored polyester fibers that can be used to make denim-like fabrics.

According to US2774647, polyester fibers may be colored by subjecting the fibers to a dye bath treatment comprising leuco indigo, a reducing agent and sodium tripolyphosphate as a buffer and having a pH of 6.5-7.5 at a temperature of 100 ℃ to about 144 ℃, and oxidizing the thus treated fibers using an aqueous solution comprising hydrogen peroxide.

According to US4369213, the prior art method of dyeing polyester fibres with indigo does not provide fading characteristics and therefore does not adequately simulate indigo dyed cotton fibres. However, this should be done by the following procedure based on the teaching of US 4369213: a coating comprising polyvinyl alcohol and a water-soluble polyamide containing secondary amino groups in the polymer chain, which are reactive with epichlorohydrin, is applied to polyester fibres and the coating is then cured. The fabric obtained from the coated polyester fibers is then treated with an aqueous alkaline leuco indigo solution and subsequently subjected to an oxidation step by exposing it to an air flow. This multi-step process requires the use of two different types of polymers, which makes itself cumbersome and also not feasible for any recycling work.

There is a need for a reliable process for making colored polyester fibers that can be used to make denim-like fabrics.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for preparing colored polyester fibers which are not limited by the drawbacks of the prior art methods and in particular provide colored/dyed polyester fibers having the fading characteristics typical of indigo-dyed denim fabrics.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a process for dyeing, in particular vat dyeing (vat dyeing) or coating, synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or fabrics comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, the process comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of (of) fibers comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or

At least one yarn, in particular a plurality of yarns, is provided, which comprises or consists of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or

Providing at least one fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; alternatively, the fabric comprises or consists of at least one yarn, in particular a plurality of yarns, comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; and

b1) providing at least one pulverulent dye or pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, or

Providing at least one aqueous dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation,

c1) providing an aqueous system comprising at least one lipase, in particular a lipase from a Candida sp, and

d1) pretreating said plurality of fibers or said one yarn or said plurality of yarns or said fabric with an aqueous system comprising at least one lipase, in particular a lipase from a candida species, and

e1) coating or dyeing the pretreated plurality of fibers or the pretreated yarn or plurality of yarns or the pretreated textile with the at least one pulverulent dye or the pulverulent precursor dye, in particular pulverulent leuco dye, or with the at least one aqueous dye preparation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation.

It has also been found to be advantageous to dye the pretreated fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric with the aqueous dye preparation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation, according to a pad-batch method.

According to another embodiment, it has been found to be advantageous to use at least one lipase, in particular a lipase from the Candida species, for the pretreatment in step d1), according to the roll-to-roll process, in particular at a temperature of 25 to 60 ℃, more particularly 30 to 50 ℃, and also in particular at a pH in the range of 4.5 to 9, more particularly 5 to 8.

Within the meaning of the present specification, the term "leuco-indigo" should be considered as synonymous with the reduced form of indigo.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a process for dyeing, in particular vat dyeing or coating, synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or fabrics comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, the process comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of fibers comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or

Providing at least one fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or at least one yarn comprising or consisting of at least one yarn, in particular a plurality of yarns, comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; and

b2) providing at least one pulverulent dye or pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, or

c2) providing an aqueous system comprising nanoscale polyurethane particles, at least one crosslinker and at least one wetting agent, and

d2) pre-treating said plurality of fibers or said one yarn or said plurality of yarns or said fabric, in particular said fabric, with said aqueous system comprising said nano-sized polyurethane particles, at least one cross-linking agent and at least one wetting agent; and

e2) coating or dyeing the pretreated plurality of fibers or the pretreated yarn or plurality of yarns or the pretreated textile with the at least one pulverulent dye or the pulverulent precursor dye, in particular the pulverulent leuco dye, or with the at least one aqueous dye preparation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular the basic aqueous leuco dye preparation.

In one quite practical embodiment, the aqueous system comprising nanoscale polyurethane particles is a nanodispersion of a self-crosslinking amphoteric or anionic polyether polyurethane. These nanoscale polyurethane particles preferably have an average particle diameter of less than 100 nm.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a process for dyeing, in particular vat dyeing or coating, synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or fabrics comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, the process comprising the steps of:

b3) providing at least one pulverulent dye or pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, or

c3) providing an aqueous system comprising at least one base, in particular an alkali metal hydroxide, more in particular potassium hydroxide, and optionally at least one wetting agent, and

d3) pretreating said plurality of fibers or said one yarn or said plurality of yarns or said fabric, in particular said plurality of fibers, one yarn or plurality of yarns, with said aqueous system comprising at least one base and optionally at least one wetting agent; and

e3) coating or dyeing the pretreated plurality of fibers or the pretreated yarn or plurality of yarns or the pretreated textile with the at least one pulverulent dye or the pulverulent precursor dye, in particular the pulverulent leuco dye, or with the at least one aqueous dye preparation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular the basic aqueous leuco dye preparation.

According to a quite practical embodiment, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is pretreated according to step d3) according to the roll-to-roll process with the aqueous dye preparation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular the basic aqueous leuco dye preparation.

It has been found to be advantageous in certain cases for the pH of the aqueous system to be in the range from 10 to 13, in particular from 10.5 to 12.0, and/or for the temperature to be in the range from 20 to 70 ℃, in particular from 30 to 60 ℃, in the pretreatment step d3), more preferably for the pretreatment step d3) to be carried out in such a way that the surface material of the pretreated synthetic fibers is at least partially peeled off, whereby the synthetic fibers are reduced in weight, in particular by 5 to 35%, more in particular by 10 to 30%.

According to another preferred embodiment, the pre-treatment step d3) further comprises subjecting the plurality of fibers to steam, in particular saturated steam, for a period of time, in particular 15 to 100 seconds, preferably 30 to 60 seconds.

Satisfactory results can also be obtained because the plurality of fibers is subjected to the aqueous system in the pretreatment d1), d2), or d3) for not more than (no more than)30 seconds, in particular not more than 15 seconds.

It has also been found to be quite practical to dye the pretreated fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric according to the pad-batch process using the aqueous dye preparation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular using a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation.

Dyes suitable for use in the process of the present invention include vat dyes, in particular consisting of vat dyes, in particular selected from the group of indigo, indigo-based dyes, in particular isoindigo, indirubin and/or 6, 6' -dibromoindigo, for example tylviolet (Tyrian purple), indanthrene (indanthren) dyes, anthracenedione (anthachinon) dyes, anthraquinone (anthanthrone) dyes, naphthalene dyes and mixtures thereof. Furthermore, suitable precursor dyes include or consist of leuco dyes, which are in particular selected from leuco-indigo, leuco-indigo type dyes, in particular leuco-isoindigo, leuco-indirubin and/or leuco-6, 6' -dibromoindigo, such as leuco-tylviolet, leuco-indanthrene dyes, leuco-anthracenedione dyes, leuco-anthraquinone dyes, leuco-naphthalene dyes and mixtures thereof.

The leuco dyes used in the process of the invention can be obtained from the corresponding vat dyes by treatment with a reducing agent in an aqueous alkaline system, said reducing agent being chosen in particular from thiourea dioxide, sodium dithionite, sodium bisulfite, hydroxyacetone, sodium hydroxymethylsulfinate, borohydride and mixtures thereof. Thus, the leuco dyes, in particular the aqueous preparations containing leuco indigo dye preparations, can be obtained, for example, in alkaline aqueous systems containing reducing agents (e.g. bisulphites) and indigo.

In a very advantageous embodiment, the aqueous basic system comprising the leuco dye is at least one aqueous precursor dye formulation.

According to another embodiment, step b1), b2) or b3) comprises providing the following: at least one, in particular unencapsulated, pulverulent leuco dye, in particular pulverulent leuco-indigo dye, or at least one, in particular unencapsulated, aqueous leuco dye preparation, in particular basic aqueous leuco indigo dye preparation; and, at least one migration inhibitor; at least one dispersant; at least one wetting agent; and at least one cationic polymer, in particular based on polyamide-epichlorohydrin resins, wherein the plurality of fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is dyed according to b1), b2) or b3) using the pulverulent leuco dye or the aqueous leuco dye preparation.

According to another embodiment, step b1), b2) or b3) comprises providing the following: at least one pulverulent leuco dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco indigo dye, or at least one aqueous leuco dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco-indigo dye preparation; and, at least one migration inhibitor; at least one dispersant; at least one wetting agent; and at least one cationic polymer, in particular based on a polyamide-epichlorohydrin resin, and wherein the plurality of fibers, one yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is dyed using the powdery leuco dye or the aqueous leuco dye preparation according to b1), b2) or b 3).

According to another embodiment, step b1), b2) or b3) comprises providing the following: at least one pulverulent leuco dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco-indigo dye, or at least one aqueous leuco dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco-indigo dye preparation; and, at least one migration inhibitor; at least one dispersant; at least one wetting agent; and at least one cationic polymer, in particular based on a polyamide-epichlorohydrin resin, and wherein the plurality of fibres, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is coated with the pulverulent leuco dye or the aqueous leuco dye preparation according to b1), b2) or b 3).

In particular, satisfactory results are obtained for those embodiments in which the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarn or a fabric is kept at room temperature for about 14 to 36 hours, in particular about 18 to about 24 hours, after the pretreatment steps d1), d2) or d3), and is then washed. The washing can be carried out, for example, in a multi-cylinder, in particular 8-cylinder, washing machine, using temperatures of from 30 to 95 ℃ and in particular from 40 to 90 ℃.

Preferably, the pre-treatment steps d1), d2) or d3) are carried out while the plurality of fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is wound on a roll.

The viscosity of the aqueous dye preparation or of the at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular of the basic aqueous leuco dye preparation, used for coating in steps e1), e2) or e3) is preferably from 10 to 70Dpa · s, in particular from 30 to 60Dpa · s, measured at 23 ± 5 ℃, preferably 23 ± 2.5 ℃, more preferably 23 ± 1.5 ℃, most preferably 23 ± 0.5 ℃.

According to one suitable embodiment, the dye used for dyeing or coating in step e1), e2) or e3) is a pulverulent leuco dye or a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco-indigo dye preparation.

In a quite practical embodiment of the process of the invention, the plurality of fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric coated or dyed in steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively, is treated with at least one oxidizing agent, in particular selected from oxygen, air (in particular heated air), inorganic peroxy compounds, hydrogen peroxide, potassium dichromate, sodium hypochlorite, peroxyacetic acid and mixtures thereof. In this way, leuco dyes such as leuco indigo are efficiently converted into their respective oxidized forms.

In a more preferred embodiment, the method of the invention further comprises the step of subjecting the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric to steam treatment after the coating or dyeing step. The temperature of the water vapour may generally be in the range 95-110 c, in particular 98-102 c. The treatment with water vapor, in particular water vapor having the above-mentioned temperature, is preferably carried out for about 1 minute to about 10 minutes, preferably for about 2 minutes to about 4 minutes.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the above-mentioned step of subjecting the fibre, a yarn, a mass of yarn or fabric to an oxidizing agent (for example steam) can be followed by a washing step, in particular in a multi-cylinder, more particularly eight-cylinder washing machine, using a temperature of 25 to 98 ℃, in particular 30 to 95 ℃.

The dyed fiber, yarn or fabric may alternatively or additionally be subjected to at least one washing step.

According to a quite suitable embodiment, the washed fiber, one yarn, a plurality of yarns or the washed fabric is subjected to a drying step. This drying step is preferably carried out at a temperature of 98-130 deg.C, in particular 100-120 deg.C, and for a period of time, in particular 30 seconds to 10 minutes, more in particular 1-3 minutes.

Particularly good and reliable results can also be obtained with the process according to the invention, wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is treated after dyeing (first dyeing step) and optionally after at least one washing step with at least one aqueous electrolyte solution comprising at least one cationic electrolyte, in particular at least one cationic polyelectrolyte. Poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) is used as a fairly suitable cationic electrolyte. In a particularly suitable embodiment, the treatment with at least one aqueous electrolyte solution comprising at least one cationic electrolyte is carried out at a pressure of 60 to 120bar, in particular 70 to 100 bar. Also, in most cases, the treatment of the fiber, yarn or fabric with the aqueous electrolyte solution may be followed by at least one washing step. Particularly satisfactory results are obtained by subjecting the thus treated and optionally washed fiber, yarn or fabric to a further dyeing step (second dyeing step) using the at least one aqueous dye preparation. Furthermore, it has been found to be advantageous to carry out the dyeing step by using the pad-batch process, optionally followed by at least one washing step. It has been found to be advantageous if the dye in the first dyeing step and/or the second dyeing step is a pulverulent leuco dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco-indigo dye, or is an aqueous leuco dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco-indigo dye preparation. According to another quite suitable embodiment, the dye in the first dyeing step and/or the second dyeing step is a reactive dye or a powdery leuco-indigo dye or an aqueous leuco-indigo dye preparation.

It has therefore been found most suitable to treat the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric with at least one aqueous electrolyte solution comprising at least one cationic electrolyte, in particular at least one cationic polyelectrolyte, after the dyeing step e1), e2) or e3) (first dyeing step), and optionally after at least one washing step, optionally followed by at least one washing step, and then at least one pulverulent dye or at least one pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, or at least one aqueous dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation, and to carry out a further dyeing step (second dyeing step), in particular according to the pad-batch process, optionally after the second dyeing step.

The process of the invention preferably also comprises at least one drying step after the dyeing or coating step, in particular comprising subjecting said dyed or coated fiber, yarn, mass of yarn or fabric to a temperature of 100-.

It is also quite advantageous for repeatable and reliable results to additionally or alternatively subject the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric to at least one fixing step after the dyeing or coating step, in particular after the coating step. The fixing step preferably comprises subjecting the dyed or coated and optionally dried fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric to a temperature of 160-. Periodically heated gas, more preferably heated air, may be used for the fixing step.

In the process of the present invention, the at least one aqueous dye preparation, in particular aqueous indigo dye preparation, used for coating (in particular after step d2) the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric, in particular the fabric, comprises at least one dye, in particular a vat dye, in particular the (unreduced) indigo dye, or a precursor dye, in particular the leuco-indigo dye, more in particular the vat dye, in particular the (unreduced) indigo dye; at least one binder, in particular a crosslinkable acrylic binder; at least one thickener; and optionally at least one softening agent, in particular a nanosilica-based softening agent.

Typically, the coating step in the process of the invention is carried out by means of blade coating or rotogravure. However, blade coating is particularly preferred.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the process according to the invention, the aqueous dye preparations, in particular for dyeing, comprise at least one organic colouring substance as dye, preferably a nonionic dye, more preferably a (unreduced) indigo dye, and optionally at least one dispersant. The dispersant may suitably be selected from alkyl sulphates, alkyl aryl sulphonates, fatty alcohols, condensation products of amines and ethylene oxide, condensation products of naphthalene sulphonic acid and formaldehyde, lignosulphonates and mixtures thereof.

Surprisingly, reliable and satisfactory results have been achieved using those processes of the invention in which

The at least one aqueous dye preparation, in particular aqueous leuco dye preparation, more particularly aqueous leuco-indigo dye preparation, has a pH value of from 10 to 13, in particular from 10.5 to 12.5.

Furthermore, beneficial results can also be obtained by using aqueous dye preparations, in particular aqueous leuco dye preparations, and more particularly aqueous leuco-indigo dye preparations, having a density at 25 ℃ of from 0.6 to 1.5g/mL, in particular from 0.8 to 1.2 g/mL.

The aqueous dye preparations, in particular aqueous leuco-indigo dye preparations, for dyeing in the process of the invention preferably comprise at least one dye, in particular a leuco-indigo dye; at least one silicone, in particular a nanoscale silicone; at least one binder, in particular a crosslinkable acrylic binder; at least one thickener; at least one defoamer; at least one amine, in particular ammonia; and water.

According to an alternative embodiment, the at least one aqueous dye preparation for dyeing, in particular the aqueous (unreduced) indigo dye preparation, comprises at least one dye, in particular a (unreduced) indigo dye; at least one silicone, in particular a nanosilica; at least one binder, in particular a crosslinkable acrylic binder; at least one thickener; at least one defoamer; at least one amine, in particular ammonia; and water.

Alternatively, the aqueous dye formulation comprises an indigo dye, at least one base, at least one wetting agent and optionally at least one carrier agent. The wetting agent that can be used with the process of the present invention advantageously comprises at least one anionic phosphate ester.

According to another embodiment, warp coating (warp coating) or rope coating (rope coating), or warp dyeing (warp dyeing) or rope dyeing (rope dyeing), respectively, is used for coating or dyeing the pretreated plurality of fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or the pretreated textile with at least one pulverulent dye, in particular a pulverulent vat dye, more particularly the (unreduced) indigo dye, or a precursor dye, in particular the leuco-indigo dye, more particularly a vat dye, particularly the (unreduced) indigo dye, or with at least one aqueous dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation.

In particular, in order to reduce or eliminate the shrinkage properties of the dyed or coated fiber, yarn or fabric, the process of the present invention further comprises a preshrinking step of at least one dyed fiber, yarn or fabric (particularly dyed fabric) after the fixing step.

In some further embodiments, it has been found practical to subject the fiber, yarn in bulk and/or fabric to a cationization step after the pretreatment step and before the coating or dyeing step, in particular before the fixing step.

For the fixing in the fixing step, it is preferred to treat the coated or dyed fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabrics, in particular the dyed fiber or fabric, with at least one aqueous formulation comprising at least one condensation product of an aliphatic polyamine with an epihalohydrin, in particular epichlorohydrin. In a preferred embodiment, this is done simultaneously with the hot water steam treatment. The pH of the aqueous formulation comprising the at least one condensation product is preferably from 3 to 6, in particular from 3.5 to 5. Simultaneously or alternatively, the temperature of the aqueous formulation is 40-95 ℃, in particular 55-85 ℃. Also, suitable condensation products of aliphatic polyamines with epihalohydrins include homopolymers of diallylamine, homopolymers of N-methyl-diallylamine or copolymers of diallylamine and N-methyl-diallylamine with a cationic reaction product of an epihalohydrin, especially epichlorohydrin.

Preferred polyester fibers for use in the process of the present invention, whether used in a plurality of synthetic fibers, a yarn or a plurality of yarns made from or comprising synthetic fibers, or a fabric made from or comprising said synthetic fibers, said yarn or said plurality of yarns, comprise polyethylene terephthalate fibers. It is also possible to use in step a) or step a) a mixture of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, and cotton fibers and/or at least one yarn, a plurality of yarns or at least one textile fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, and cotton fibers.

In an advantageous embodiment, the tensile strength of the synthetic fibers or of a multiplicity of fibers consisting of synthetic fibers (in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, for example multicomponent fibers or bicomponent fibers) or of the fabric consisting of synthetic fibers (in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, for example multicomponent fibers or bicomponent fibers) pretreated according to step d3) after the pretreatment step is lower than the tensile strength of the fibers before the pretreatment step, in particular is not more than 20% lower than the tensile strength of the fibers before the pretreatment step, more in particular is not more than 10% lower than the tensile strength of the fibers before the pretreatment step, the tensile strengths each being measured at 23 ± 5 ℃, preferably at 23 ± 2.5 ℃, more preferably at 23 + -1.5 deg.C, most preferably at 23 + -0.5 deg.C.

In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of fibers or one yarn or the synthetic fibers of the plurality of yarns or fabrics are multicomponent fibers, in particular bicomponent fibers. The multicomponent fibers, particularly bicomponent fibers, may be selected from solid or hollow side-by-side fibers, sheath-core fibers, islands-in-the-sea fibers (matrix-fibril type) and segmented-pie-structure (segmented-pie-structure) fibers.

Preferably, the multicomponent fibers, in particular the bicomponent fibers, are made of: polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalates, nylon 66 and polycyclohexyldimethylene terephthalates (PCT), polypropylene and polybutylene terephthalates, nylon 6 and copolyamides, polylactic acid and polystyrene, polyacetals (especially polyoxymethylene) and polyurethanes, copolyesters and high-density polyethylene or copolyesters and linear low-density polyethylene, polyolefins (especially polypropylene) and polyamides.

The core-sheath bicomponent fiber is preferably made of: a polyester core (in particular a polyethylene terephthalate core) and a copolyester sheath, or a polyester core (in particular a polyethylene terephthalate core) and a polyethylene sheath, or a polypropylene core and a polyethylene sheath, or a polyamide core (in particular nylon 66) and a polyolefin sheath (in particular a polypropylene sheath). Also, the sea-island type bicomponent fiber preferably comprises a polyolefin matrix (particularly, polypropylene matrix) and polyamide (particularly, polyamide fibrils) embedded in the matrix.

The yarns made of or comprising synthetic fibers are suitably textured yarns and/or oriented yarns selected from the group consisting of Low Oriented Yarns (LOY), Medium Oriented Yarns (MOY), Partially Oriented Yarns (POY), High Oriented Yarns (HOY) and Fully Oriented Yarns (FOY). Yarns can generally be considered to represent long continuous lengths of interlocked fibers. Thus, yarns are typically made from a large number of fibers, for example from synthetic fibers, or from a mixture of natural and/or synthetic fibers. The yarns may be so-called spun yarns (spun yarns) or filament yarns.

Among the above yarns, those of one kind or those of a large number, i.e., those representing or containing textured yarns and partially oriented yarns, are preferred. The textured yarn can be produced by, for example, a so-called false twist winding method, stuffer box crimping method, air jet texturing method, false twist texturing (knit-de-knit crimping) method, and gear crimping method.

The particle size of the pulverulent dye, in particular of the pulverulent indigo dye, provided in steps B1), B2), B3) or B) is preferably below 10 μm, and in particular from 1 to 5 μm.

A plurality of fibers comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, which have been pretreated according to step d3), the tensile strength after the pretreatment step of said fibers being lower than the tensile strength before the pretreatment step, in particular not more than 20% lower than the tensile strength before the pretreatment step of said fibers, more in particular not more than 10% lower than the tensile strength before the pretreatment step of said fibers, said tensile strengths each being measured at 23 ± 5 ℃, preferably at 23 ± 2.5 ℃, more preferably at 23 ± 1.5 ℃, most preferably at 23 ± 0.5 ℃.

In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the following are provided:

-subjecting a fabric made of synthetic fibers, one yarn or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers to a pre-treatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), and then coating the pre-treated fabric according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively; or

-subjecting synthetic fibres or a yarn or a multitude of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibres to a pre-treatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), making said fibres, a yarn or a multitude of yarns into a fabric and coating or dyeing, in particular coating, said fabric according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively; or

-subjecting the synthetic fibers or a yarn or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers to a pre-treatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), dyeing said fibers, a yarn or a plurality of yarns according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively; or

-subjecting a synthetic fiber or a yarn or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers to a pre-treatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), dyeing said fiber, yarn or plurality of yarns according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively, making said fiber, yarn or plurality of yarns into a fabric, and coating or dyeing, in particular coating, said fabric according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively; or

-subjecting synthetic fibres or a yarn or a multitude of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibres to a pre-treatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), making said fibres, a yarn or a multitude of yarns into a fabric, subjecting said fabric to a pre-treatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), and subsequently coating or dyeing, in particular coating, said fabric according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively; or

-subjecting a synthetic fiber or a yarn or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers to a pretreatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), dyeing said fiber, yarn or plurality of yarns according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively, and subsequently making it into a fabric, subjecting said fabric to a pretreatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), and subsequently coating or dyeing, in particular coating, said fabric according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively.

It has been found by the present invention that a pre-treatment process comprising lipase (c1)/d1)), nano-sized polyurethane particles (c2)/d2)) and alkali treatment (c3)/d3)) can be successfully combined with an electrostatic dyeing process using an electrolytic solution, a fabric coating process, a warp yarn coating and a warp yarn dyeing process to provide dyed synthetic fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns and fabrics, in particular indigo-dyed polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers and fabrics.

The problem addressed by the present invention is also solved by a dyed synthetic fiber (in particular a dyed polyester fiber and/or a dyed polyamide fiber), or a dyed one, or a dyed plurality of yarns or a dyed fabric, obtained or obtainable by any one of the processes of the present invention as described above.

The problem underlying the present invention is also solved by a coated synthetic fiber (in particular a coated polyester fiber and/or a coated polyamide fiber), or a coated yarn, or a coated mass of yarn or a coated fabric obtained or obtainable by one of the processes of the present invention as described above.

The polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers and poly-1, 4-cyclohexyldimethylene terephthalate (PCDT) fibers.

The fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns and fabrics obtained according to the process of the present invention exhibit excellent crocking performance as well as sufficient tensile and tear strength.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for dyeing or coating, in particular indigo dyeing or indigo coating, of: synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, the device comprising:

x) a dyeing station, in particular a coating station or a dyeing station, in which a dye preparation is applied to the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or the fabric conveyed through the dyeing station, the dye preparation comprising at least one pulverulent dye or pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, and/or at least one aqueous dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation, and

w) a drying station, wherein the fiber, yarn or fabric is conveyed through the drying station before it enters the coloring station, in particular directly before it enters the coloring station, so that the powdery dye or aqueous dye preparation is applied to the dried fiber, dried yarn or dried fabric in the coloring station.

After leaving the drying station, the moisture content of the fiber, yarn or fabric is preferably less than 1 wt%, preferably less than 0.5 wt%, more preferably less than 0.25 wt% of the dry mass of the fiber, yarn or fabric. The amount of dye preparation absorbed in the subsequent colouring station is preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 70%, most preferably at least 60% and/or preferably at most 90%, more preferably at most 80%, most preferably at most 70% of the dry mass of the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric.

In some embodiments, the drying station comprises at least one, preferably at least two or four or six heated drums (heated drums), and/or preferably at most fourteen, more preferably at most twelve or ten or eight heated drums, which preferably conductively heat the fibre, yarn or fabric carried thereon by a surface temperature, preferably at least 100 ℃, more preferably at least 120 ℃, most preferably at least 130 ℃, and/or preferably at most 140 ℃, more preferably at most 130 ℃. It has been found advantageous to contact the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric with the heated surface of the roll for at least 10 seconds, or at least 20 seconds, or at least 40 seconds, or at least 60 seconds, or at least 80 seconds, or at least 100 seconds, and/or preferably for at most 200 seconds, or at most 180 seconds, or at most 160 seconds, or at most 140 seconds, or at most 120 seconds, most preferably for about 120 seconds.

The fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is preferably in contact with a heated surface of at least 150 degrees, more preferably at least 180 degrees, most preferably at least 210 degrees and/or preferably at most 330 degrees, more preferably at least 300 degrees, most preferably at least 270 or 240 degrees in the circumferential direction when being carried on the heated roll.

In a preferred embodiment, the drying station comprises at least one tenter frame (stenter), wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is heated by air convection, preferably by air at a temperature of at least 120 ℃, more preferably at least 140 ℃, and/or preferably at most 180 ℃, more preferably at most 160 ℃, most preferably at most 145 ℃, or about 140 ℃. Preferably, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is carried through the tenter for at least 10 seconds, or at least 20 seconds, or at least 40 seconds, or at least 60 seconds, or at least 80 seconds, or at least 100 seconds, and/or preferably for at most 200 seconds, or at most 180 seconds, or at most 160 seconds, or at most 140 seconds, or at most 120 seconds, most preferably for about 120 seconds.

It has been found to be advantageous to supplement the apparatus of the invention by means of a ventilation station through which the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is conveyed before entering the drying station. In such a ventilation station the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is dried by air, preferably at a temperature of at least 20 ℃ and/or at most 40 ℃, more preferably about 25 ℃. In a preferred embodiment, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is preferably carried through the ventilation station for at least 300 seconds, more preferably at least 600 seconds, and/or preferably for at most 1200 seconds, more preferably for at most 900 seconds. In a preferred embodiment, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is carried on at least 6, or at least 8, or at least 10 and/or at most 16, or at most 14, or at most 12, most preferably 9 rotating rollers in the ventilation station. The rollers are preferably arranged in two rows substantially parallel to each other, wherein the rows of rotating rollers are spaced at least 5 meters and/or a maximum of 15 meters, preferably about 10 meters.

In a quite preferred embodiment, the fiber, yarn or fabric is carried on four, six, eight or ten rotating drums when being carried from the ventilating station to the drying station, wherein the fiber, yarn or fabric preferably travels a distance of at least 30 meters and at most 50 meters from the ventilating station to the drying station.

It has been found to be advantageous to supplement the apparatus of the invention by a pre-treatment station for using one of the aqueous solutions c1), c2) or c3) before forwarding said fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabric sequentially (in series) through said drying station and said dyeing station, more preferably before forwarding said fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabric sequentially through a ventilation station, said drying station and said dyeing station, preferably, the synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or the yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or the fabrics comprising or consisting of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, are pretreated by one of the pretreatment steps d1), d2) or d 3).

Additionally or alternatively, it is preferred that the device for dyeing or coating a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or comprising or consisting of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, is supplemented by a second device according to the fourth aspect of the invention, wherein the dyeing station of the first device is a dyeing station and wherein the dyeing station of the second device is a coating station, wherein the device is arranged such that the fabric is first conveyed through the dyeing station and then through the coating station.

Additionally or alternatively, it is preferred that the device for dyeing or coating synthetic fibers, a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a mass of yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers is supplemented by a second device according to the fourth aspect of the invention, wherein the dyeing station of the first device is a dyeing station and wherein the dyeing station of the second device is a coating station, wherein the device is arranged such that the fiber, a yarn or a mass of yarn is first conveyed through the dyeing station and then through the coating station. It has been found to be advantageous to supplement such a device for dyeing the fiber, a yarn or a number of yarns by a weaving machine for weaving the fiber, a yarn or a number of yarns into a fabric after leaving the dyeing station and before entering the coating station.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, a device is provided for dyeing, in particular indigo dyeing, of: synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, the device comprising:

x1) a dyeing station, wherein a dye preparation is applied to the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric conveyed through the dyeing station, wherein the dye preparation comprises at least one pulverulent dye or pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, and/or at least one aqueous dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation, and

y1) a drying station and/or a hot-air ventilation station, in which the fiber, yarn or fabric to which the dye preparation is applied is dried, wherein the dyeing station comprises only one vat filled with the dye preparation, and wherein the drums are arranged such that the fiber, yarn or fabric is immersed once in the dye preparation and then leaves the dye preparation for the drying station and/or hot-air ventilation station without being immersed again in the dye preparation.

Preferably, before leaving the dyeing station, the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarn or fabric is conveyed through at least two pressure rollers facing each other and forming a slit through which the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarn or fabric is conveyed under pressure. The pressure is preferably at least 60bar, more preferably at least 80bar, and/or preferably at most 110bar, more preferably at most 90 bar. After leaving the dyeing station, the amount of dye preparation applied to the fiber, yarn or fabric is preferably at least 80% and/or preferably at most 90%, more preferably about 90% of the mass of the fiber, yarn or fabric prior to entering the dyeing station. The temperature of the dye preparation may be at least 20 ℃, preferably at least 40 ℃, more preferably at least 50 ℃ and/or at most 90 ℃, preferably at most 70 ℃, more preferably at most 60 ℃.

In a preferred embodiment, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is carried through the dyeing station preferably for more than 10 seconds, more preferably for more than 50 seconds, and/or preferably for less than 90 seconds, more preferably for less than 70 seconds.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the apparatus of the present invention is supplemented by a hot air ventilation station through which the fiber, yarn or fabric is conveyed after leaving the dyeing station. In such a hot air ventilation station the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is heated by convection of air, preferably the air has a temperature of at least 60 ℃, more preferably at least 80 ℃, most preferably at least 100 ℃, and/or preferably at most 140 ℃, more preferably at most 120 ℃, most preferably at most 110 ℃, or about 100 ℃. Preferably, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is carried through the hot air ventilation station for at least 10 seconds, or at least 20 seconds, or at least 40 seconds, or at least 60 seconds, or at least 80 seconds, or at least 100 seconds, and/or for at most 200 seconds, or at most 180 seconds, or at most 160 seconds, or at most 140 seconds, or at most 120 seconds, most preferably for about 120 seconds.

It has also been found to be advantageous to supplement the apparatus of the invention with a drying station through which the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is conveyed after leaving the dyeing station, more preferably after leaving the dyeing station and after leaving a subsequent hot air ventilation station.

The drying station may comprise at least one, preferably at least two or four or six heated rolls, preferably conductively heating the fiber, yarn or fabric carried on the rolls by a surface temperature, preferably at least 100 ℃, more preferably at least 120 ℃, most preferably at least 130 ℃, and/or preferably at most 140 ℃, more preferably at most 130 ℃, and/or at most fourteen, more preferably at most twelve or ten or eight heated rolls. It has been found advantageous to contact the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric with the heated surface of the roll for at least 10 seconds, or at least 20 seconds, or at least 40 seconds, or at least 60 seconds, or at least 80 seconds, or at least 100 seconds, and/or preferably for at most 200 seconds, or at most 180 seconds, or at most 160 seconds, or at most 140 seconds, or at most 120 seconds, most preferably about 120 seconds.

When being transported on the heated roll, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is preferably transported over at least 150 degrees, more preferably at least 180 degrees, most preferably at least 210 degrees and/or preferably at most 330 degrees, more preferably at most 300 degrees, most preferably at most 270 or 240 degrees of the circumference of the heated roll.

In a preferred embodiment, the drying station comprises at least one tenter frame, wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is heated by convection of air, preferably at a temperature of at least 120 ℃, more preferably at least 140 ℃, and/or at most 180 ℃, preferably at most 160 ℃, more preferably at most 145 ℃, or at about 140 ℃. Preferably, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is carried through the tenter for at least 10 seconds, or at least 20 seconds, or at least 40 seconds, or at least 60 seconds, or at least 80 seconds, or at least 100 seconds, and/or preferably for at most 200 seconds, or at most 180 seconds, or at most 160 seconds, or at most 140 seconds, or at most 120 seconds, most preferably for about 120 seconds.

Furthermore, the device of the invention is preferably supplemented by a pretreatment station for pretreating synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a mass of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, using one of the aqueous solutions c1), c2) or c3), preferably by one of the pretreatment steps d1), d2) or d3), before transporting the fiber, yarn, mass of yarns or fabric through the dyeing station, preferably before transporting the fiber, yarn, mass of yarns or fabric sequentially through the drying station (11, 211, 311) and the dyeing station, more preferably before transporting the fiber, yarn, mass of yarns or fabric sequentially through the ventilation station, drying station and the dyeing station Or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers.

Additionally or alternatively, it is preferred that the second device according to the fourth aspect of the invention supplements a device for dyeing or coating a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, wherein the dyeing station of the second device is a coating station, wherein the device is arranged such that the fabric is first transported through the dyeing station and then through the coating station.

Additionally or alternatively, it is preferred that the second device according to the fourth aspect of the invention supplements a device for dyeing or coating synthetic fibers, or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a mass of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, wherein the dyeing station of the second device is a coating station, wherein the device is arranged such that the fibers, a yarn, a mass of yarns are first transported through the dyeing station and then through the coating station. It has been found to be advantageous to supplement such a device for dyeing the fiber, a yarn or a number of yarns by a weaving machine for weaving the fiber, yarn or number of yarns into a fabric after leaving the dyeing station and before entering the coating station.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, a device is provided for coating, in particular for indigo coating, of: synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, the device comprising:

x2), preferably a pre-metering device, such as a knife coater, wherein a dye preparation is applied to the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric, in particular a fabric, conveyed through the coating station, wherein the dye preparation comprises at least one pulverulent dye or a pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, and/or at least one aqueous dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation.

In a preferred embodiment, the coating station comprises at least one post-metering device, such as a knife coater, in particular arranged with a floating knife, or a blanket knife, or a roll knife. In a less preferred embodiment, the coating station comprises at least one, preferably at least three, more preferably at least six and/or preferably at most twelve pre-metering devices, such as roll coaters, in particular, such as, for example, a mayer rod coater or a direct roll coater or a gravure coater.

The coating station may also include a combination of the pre-metering device and a post-metering device.

It has also been found to be advantageous to supplement the apparatus of the invention by a drying station through which the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is conveyed after leaving the coating station.

The drying station may comprise at least one, preferably at least two or four or six heated rolls, and/or preferably at most fourteen, more preferably at most twelve or ten or eight heated rolls, which preferably conductively heat the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric transported on the rolls by a surface temperature, which is preferably at least 100 ℃, more preferably at least 120 ℃, most preferably at least 130 ℃, and/or preferably at most 140 ℃, more preferably at most 130 ℃. It has been found advantageous to contact the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric with the heated surface of the roll for at least 10 seconds, or at least 20 seconds, or at least 40 seconds, or at least 60 seconds, or at least 80 seconds, or at least 100 seconds, and/or preferably for at most 200 seconds, or at most 180 seconds, or at most 160 seconds, or at most 140 seconds, or at most 120 seconds, most preferably about 120 seconds.

Another apparatus of the invention may be supplemented by a softening station through which the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is conveyed after coating and drying. A thin soft silk (foldard) may be used as a softening station where a softening agent, in particular a nano-silicone based softening agent, may be applied to the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric to soften the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric.

When being carried on the heated roll, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is preferably carried on a circumference of the heated roll of at least 150 degrees, more preferably at least 180 degrees, most preferably at least 210 degrees and/or preferably at most 330 degrees, more preferably at most 300 degrees, most preferably at most 270 degrees or 240 degrees.

In a preferred embodiment, the drying station comprises at least one tenter frame, wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is heated by convection of air, preferably the air has a temperature of at least 120 ℃, more preferably at least 140 ℃, and/or preferably at most 180 ℃, more preferably at most 160 ℃, most preferably at most 145 ℃, or about 140 ℃. Preferably, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is carried through the tenter for at least 10 seconds, or at least 20 seconds, or at least 40 seconds, or at least 60 seconds, or at least 80 seconds, or at least 100 seconds, and/or preferably for at most 200 seconds, or at most 180 seconds, or at most 160 seconds, or at most 140 seconds, or at most 120 seconds, most preferably for about 120 seconds.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the device of the invention is supplemented by a pre-treatment station for pre-treating synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a mass of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a polyester fiber and/or a polyamide fiber, with one of the aqueous solutions c1), c2) or c3), preferably with one of the pre-treatment steps d1), d2) or d3), before transporting the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarn or a fabric through the coating station, preferably in sequence through the drying station and the coating station, or in sequence through the ventilation station, the drying station and the coating station, or by a pre-treatment station, Or a fabric comprising or consisting of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers.

Additionally or alternatively, it is preferred that the second device according to the fourth or fifth aspect of the invention supplements a device for dyeing or coating a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, wherein the dyeing station of the second device is a dyeing station, wherein the device is arranged such that the fabric is first transported through the dyeing station and then through the coating station.

Additionally or alternatively, it is preferred that the device for dyeing or coating synthetic fibers, a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a mass of yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers is supplemented by a second device according to the fourth or fifth aspect of the invention, wherein the dyeing station of the second device is a dyeing station, wherein the device is arranged such that the fiber, yarn or mass of fibers is first transported through the dyeing station and then through the coating station. It has been found to be advantageous to supplement such a device for dyeing the fiber, a yarn or a number of yarns by a weaving machine for weaving the fiber, a yarn or a number of yarns into a fabric after leaving the dyeing station and before entering the coating station.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for dyeing or coating, in particular indigo dyeing or indigo coating, of: synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, the device comprising:

z1) a heat-fixing station through which the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric, to which the dye preparation has been applied, is conveyed after leaving the colouring station in order to fix the applied dye preparation to the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric, and/or by heating the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric

Z2) at least one, preferably 3, chemical fixing stations through which the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric, to which the dye preparation has been applied, is conveyed after leaving the dyeing station, wherein an aqueous preparation containing at least one condensation product of an aliphatic polyamine with a epihalohydrin, in particular epichlorohydrin, is applied to the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric in order to fix the applied dye preparation to the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric.

In a preferred embodiment, the heat-fixing station comprises a tenter frame, wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is heated by convection of air, preferably at a temperature of at least 130 ℃, more preferably at least 150 ℃, most preferably at least 170 ℃ and/or preferably at most 220 ℃, more preferably at most 200 ℃, most preferably at most 180 ℃.

It has been found advantageous to transport the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric preferably at least one minute, more preferably at least three minutes, most preferably at least five minutes and/or preferably at most fifteen minutes, more preferably at most ten minutes, most preferably at most five minutes through the heat-fixing station, in particular through the tenter.

In a preferred embodiment, the temperature of the aqueous formulation in at least one chemical fixation station is at least 40 ℃, preferably at least 55 ℃ and/or at most 95 ℃, preferably at most 85 ℃. It has been found advantageous to transport the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric preferably for at least 10 seconds, more preferably for at least 30 seconds, and/or preferably for at most 60 seconds, more preferably for at most 45 seconds through the chemical fixing station. Preferably, the amount of the aqueous formulation absorbed in the chemical fixing station is 2-4%, preferably about 3% of the mass of the fiber, yarn or fabric prior to entering the chemical fixing station.

The use of a stationary station to supplement the coloring apparatus, particularly when dyeing polyester with indigo dye formulations as described above, results in improved dyeing or coating efficiency. With the device designed in the seventh aspect of the present invention, a dye saving of about 20% is achieved.

It has been found to be advantageous to supplement the apparatus of the seventh aspect of the invention by a hot air ventilation station or drying station, preferably in sequence, through which the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is conveyed after leaving the dyeing station and before entering the fixing station. As the hot-air ventilating station and/or the drying station, the hot-air ventilating station and the drying station described in the fifth aspect and the eighth aspect of the present invention may be used.

In particular, in order to reduce or eliminate the shrinkage properties of the dyed or coated fiber, yarn or fabric, the apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a preshrinking finishing station through which the fiber, yarn or fabric is conveyed after leaving the thermal fixing station and/or after leaving the chemical fixing station.

In the device according to the invention, the fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric are preferably transported at a transport speed of 5 to 50m/min, preferably 5 to 15m/min or 15 to 30m/min or 30 to 50 m/min.

An exemplary pre-treatment station is a tissue softener, also known as a padding machine, in which one of the aqueous solutions c1), c2) or c3) is applied to the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric by one of the pre-treatment steps d1), d2) or d 3). Preferably, before leaving said pre-treatment station, said fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is conveyed through at least two pressure rollers facing each other and forming a slit through which the textile is conveyed under pressure, said pressure preferably being greater than 60bar, more preferably greater than 80bar and/or less than 110bar, preferably less than 90 bar. The temperature of the aqueous solution c1), c2) or c3) is preferably at least 20 ℃, more preferably at least 30 ℃ and/or at most 50 ℃, preferably at most 40 ℃. It has been found that the aforementioned conditions, in particular pressure conditions, result in the application of a preferred amount of aqueous solution, in particular c1), c2) or c3), to the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns, fabric. After leaving the pre-treatment station, the preferred amount of aqueous solution applied to the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is more than 70%, more preferably more than 80%, and/or less than 95%, or less than 90% or less than 85%, most preferably about 90% of the mass of the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric before entering the pre-treatment station.

In some embodiments of the invention, in particular for embodiments using c1) for pretreatment, the device is supplemented with a standby station for holding the pretreated fiber, yarn or fabric in defined conditions for a defined time after leaving the pretreatment station. It has been found to be advantageous to keep the pre-treated fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric at room temperature or at a temperature of at least 20 ℃, or preferably at least 30 ℃ and/or at most 60 ℃, preferably at most 50 ℃, most preferably about 40 ℃ for at least 14 hours, more preferably at least 18 hours, most preferably at least 21 hours, and/or at most 36 hours, more preferably at most 27 hours, most preferably at most 24 hours. It has been found experimentally that the aforementioned conditions, and in particular when pre-treated with c1), result in an increased amount of pre-treatment elements, in particular lipases, bound to the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or a fabric, and/or an increased binding force between the pre-treatment elements and the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or a fabric, without causing too high manufacturing costs in terms of handling time, storage costs and energy costs.

It has been found that in some embodiments of the invention, in particular in the embodiment with pretreatment with c3), it is advantageous to supplement the apparatus with a steam station. The steam treatment station is preferably located after the pretreatment station for steam treating, in particular saturated steam treating, the fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric after leaving the pretreatment station. Preferred conditions with respect to the temperature of the water vapour and the time for subjecting the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric to the steaming have been discussed previously.

In some embodiments of the invention, in particular for embodiments with pretreatment with c1) or c3), the device is replenished using a wash station. The washing station is preferably located after the pre-treatment station, and/or after the standby station, and/or after the steam station, for washing the fibres, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabrics after they have passed the pre-treatment station, and/or the standby station, and/or the steam station. The washing station preferably comprises a multi-cylinder washing machine for washing the fiber, yarn or fabric under different conditions, such as wash solution, temperature of the wash solution and time for washing the fiber, yarn or fabric with the wash solution. The multi-cylinder washing machine preferably comprises four or six or eight or ten washing cylinders. Preferably, each wash tank comprises a rotating drum arranged to carry the fibre, yarn or fabric such that they are immersed in and leave the wash solution several times, preferably four, five, six or seven or eight times. Further, the washing tub may comprise pressure rollers facing each other and forming a slit through which the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is conveyed under pressure before being immersed in the washing solution and/or after leaving the washing solution. In the case of an eight-cylinder washer, the preferred temperature of the wash solution in the first and second wash cylinders is 30-40 ℃, the preferred temperature of the wash solution in the third and fourth wash cylinders is 50-60 ℃, the preferred temperature of the wash solution in the fifth and sixth wash cylinders is 90-95 ℃, and/or the preferred temperature of the wash solution in the seventh and eighth wash cylinders is 55-70 ℃.

The viscosity of the aqueous dye preparations, in particular of the basic aqueous leuco dye preparations in the coating station, is preferably from 10 to 70 Dpa.s, in particular from 30 to 60 Dpa.s, measured at 23. + -. 5 ℃, preferably at 23. + -. 2.5 ℃, more preferably at 23. + -. 1.5 ℃, most preferably at 23. + -. 0.5 ℃. This viscosity range is preferred because it is low enough that the aqueous dye formulation can be easily applied to a fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric, in particular a fabric, but high enough to retain the dye formulation on the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns and/or a fabric, and the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric absorbs sufficient dye formulation. In the coating station, the dye preparation is applied to the fibers, yarns, threads and/or fabric, preferably by means of at least one blade coater, wherein the fibers, yarns, threads and/or fabric are conveyed in the warp direction through the coating station.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is supplemented by a steam station located after the colouring station. In the steam station, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is subjected to a water vapor treatment, in particular saturated steam treatment. The temperature of the water vapor is preferably 95 to 110 c, in particular 98 to 102 c. The fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is subjected to steam treatment for preferably 1 to 10 minutes, more preferably 2 to 4 minutes. In the case of a complementary coloring device using a steam station, it is advantageous to supplement the device with a washing station, in particular a multi-cylinder washing machine, more particularly an eight-cylinder washing machine, wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is conveyed through the washing station after leaving the steam machine. The temperature of the washing solution used in the individual cylinders of the multi-cylinder washing machine is preferably from 25 to 98 c, in particular from 30 to 95 c.

The device can also be supplemented alternatively or additionally with a washing machine, wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is conveyed through the washing machine after leaving the coloring station.

According to a quite suitable embodiment of the invention, the device is supplemented by a drying station (for example arranged with heated rolls or tenter frames) through which the fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabrics are conveyed after they leave the steam station and/or the washing station. In such a drying station, the temperature of the hot air or the surface temperature of the heated roller is preferably 98-130 ℃, in particular 100-120 ℃. The fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is preferably conveyed through the drying station for a period of time, in particular from 30 seconds to 10 minutes, more in particular from 1 to 3 minutes.

The above-described device is particularly advantageously used for dyeing synthetic fibers, yarns and fabrics as described above, in particular polyester fibers, yarns and fabrics, using indigo or leuco-indigo dyes as described above.

The apparatus is designed to perform the method and the method is developed for use in the apparatus.

The fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns and fabrics obtained by dyeing or coating them using the apparatus of the invention and/or using the process of the invention exhibit excellent crocking performance as well as sufficient tensile and tear strength. Particularly good results can be obtained by carrying out the process of the invention using the apparatus of the invention.

An eighth aspect of the invention relates to a dyed and/or coated synthetic fiber, in particular a polyester fiber and/or a polyamide fiber, or a yarn comprising or consisting of a synthetic fiber, or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of a synthetic fiber, or a fabric comprising or consisting of a yarn comprising or consisting of a synthetic fiber. The fibers are dyed or coated with a dye preparation comprising at least one pulverulent indigo dye or pulverulent precursor indigo dye, and/or with at least one aqueous indigo dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor indigo dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco-indigo dye preparation. These fibers have a dry crockfastness of from 1.0 to 5.0, preferably from 2.0 to 4.0, most preferably from 2.5 to 3.5, and/or a wet crockfastness of from 0.5 to 3.0, preferably from 1.0 to 2.5, more preferably from 1.5 to 2.0. Such a fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric may for example be obtained by dyeing and/or coating the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric by the above-described apparatus and/or by the above-described method. The wet crockfastness is according to ISO 105-X12: 2001 (E). The dry crockfastness is according to ISO 105-X12: 2001 (E).

With regard to the eighth aspect of the invention, particularly good results are obtained when the fibers, one yarn, a multitude of yarns and fabrics are pretreated with at least one lipase as described above or with an aqueous system comprising nanoscale polyurethane particles as described above.

With the present invention it has surprisingly been found how to obtain dyed synthetic fibres, yarns and fabrics having substantially the same fading characteristics as dyed cotton fibres, yarns and fabrics used in conventional denim fabrics. Thus, it is now possible to reliably produce, for example, colored polyester fiber yarns, a plurality of yarns and fabrics and/or polyamide fiber yarns, a plurality of yarns and fabrics that can be used to make similar denim fabrics.

Other features, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. These figures are shown in:

figure 1 is a conventional apparatus for dyeing cotton fibers, yarns, bulk yarns or fabrics using indigo.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of an apparatus for dyeing synthetic fibers, yarns, a plurality of yarns or fabrics, showing the difference in arrangement of a drying station, a dyeing station and a fixing station from a conventional apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an apparatus for coating synthetic fibers.

FIG. 4 shows a pretreatment station which is preferably used when pretreatment is carried out using c1), c2) or c 3).

Fig. 5 is a stand-by station preferably used when preprocessing using c 1).

FIG. 6 shows the washing and drying stations preferably used when the pretreatment is carried out using c 1).

Fig. 7 shows a pre-treatment station and a drying station which are preferably used when pre-treatment is carried out using c 2).

Fig. 8 is a pre-treatment station, steam station, washing station and drying station, preferably used when pre-treating with c3) or when steaming, washing and drying the fibre, yarn, mass of yarn or fabric after leaving the colouring station.

Fig. 9 is a coating station and a drying station that are preferably used in coating.

Fig. 10 is a heat fixing station.

Fig. 11 is a dyeing station preferably used when treating fibers, yarns, bulk yarns or fabrics with an aqueous electrolyte solution after dyeing.

Fig. 12 is a preshrinking finishing station.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of an apparatus for dyeing a synthetic fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or a fabric, schematically illustrating a fourth, fifth and seventh aspect of the present invention, and the differences and advantages compared to the conventional apparatus shown in fig. 1. In the apparatus shown in fig. 2, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is conveyed by rotating drums through a plurality of stations, starting from an accumulator station 1, followed in sequence by a calender 3, a pretreatment station 15, a ventilation station 7, a drying station, a dyeing station 19, a hot air ventilation station 117, a drying station 11, a fixing station 17 (in particular three chemical fixing stations 417), a drying station 11 and finally a sizing station 13.

The drying station 11 precedes the dyeing station 19 or the coating station (39) not shown, or directly precedes the dyeing station 19 or the coating station (39) not shown, illustrating the fourth aspect of the invention. In contrast to the conventional apparatus schematically shown in fig. 1, the upstream drying station 11 brings the dried fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric into the dyeing station 19. This results in a large amount of the powdery dye and/or aqueous dye preparation being absorbed by the fibre, a yarn, a large amount of yarn or fabric in the dyeing station 19. Higher amounts of absorbed powdery dye and/or aqueous liquid dye formulation increase the amount of dye that can theoretically be fixed to the fiber and thereby increase the achievable color, in particular the chroma and/or the saturation, of the colored fiber, one yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric.

In fig. 2, a single dyeing station 19, followed by a hot air ventilation station 117, illustrates a fifth aspect of the invention. This results in a reduced number of stations compared to the conventional arrangement shown in figure 1, thereby reducing the complexity of the arrangement, resulting in lower manufacturing costs. Further, the use of a single dyeing station 19 surprisingly makes it possible, in particular in combination with any of the first to third and/or fourth and/or seventh aspects of the invention, to obtain improved repeatability and precision in adjusting the amount of dye absorbed in the dyeing station 19, and/or precision in adjusting the colorfastness, in particular the dry and/or wet crockfastness and/or lightfastness. The advantages have been achieved when dyeing fibers, one yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabrics.

As shown in fig. 2, the single dyeing station 19 may be a vat 29 substantially filled with a water-based dye formulation, wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is transported through the vat 29. The fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is carried sequentially on five rotating rolls 123 in an aqueous dye formulation, through two pressure rolls 515 in the aqueous dye formulation, on five rotating rolls 123 in the aqueous dye formulation, and through two pressure rolls 415 outside of vat 29 and outside of the aqueous dye formulation. The bending line 25 shows the liquid level in the dye vat 29 by way of example.

A seventh aspect of the invention is illustrated by the dashed box in fig. 2, which indicates the fixed station 17. One embodiment of such a fixing station 17 is shown in the dashed box in a cascade of three chemical fixing stations 417 through which the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is transported after leaving the dyeing station 19 or the coating station 39, not shown. These chemical fixing stations comprise a vat filled with an aqueous formulation, instead of a washing solution, comprising at least one condensation product of an aliphatic polyamine with an epihalohydrin, in particular epichlorohydrin. In such a chemical fixing station, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is carried through the aqueous solution by five rotating rollers and, on leaving the chemical fixing station, by two pressure rollers facing each other and forming a slit.

However, in another embodiment of the invention, the fixing station may be a thermal fixing station 217, in particular a tenter frame (an example is shown in fig. 10). The use of the fixing station 17 to supplement the colouring apparatus enables, in particular in combination with any of the first to third, and/or fourth, and/or fifth or sixth aspects of the invention, improved repeatability and precision in the adjustment of colour fastness, in particular dry and/or wet and/or light fastness.

Fig. 3 shows a sixth and seventh aspect of the invention. A sixth aspect of the invention relates to the use of a coating station 39 instead of the cascade of dyeing station 19 and venting station 7 shown in figure 1. In fig. 3, the fabric is wound up from a reel 21, carried on a rotating roll 23, passed through a coating station 39, a drying station 11 in the form of a tenter 311 in sequence, and wound up again on the reel 21. The use of the coating station 39 instead of the cascade of the dyeing station 19 and the ventilation station results in a reduction in the number of stations and therefore in a reduction in the complexity of the apparatus, resulting in lower manufacturing costs, compared to the conventional apparatus shown in fig. 1. Further, the use of a coating station 39 surprisingly enables, in particular in combination with any of the first to third and/or fourth and/or seventh aspects of the invention, improved repeatability and precision in adjusting the amount of dye absorbed in the coating station 39, and/or precision in adjusting the color fastness, in particular dry and/or wet and/or light fastness. The advantages have been achieved when coating fabrics.

As indicated by the upward arrow in fig. 3, the coated and dried fabric, in particular the fabric wound on the reel 21, is transported to a heat-fixing station 311 (seventh aspect of the invention), where the fabric is wound up from the reel, transported through the heat-fixing station 311, and wound up again on the reel 21. Alternatively or additionally to the thermal fixing station 311, the coated and dried fabric may also be conveyed through a chemical fixing station 417 shown in fig. 2 by way of example. As shown in dashed boxes in fig. 3, the coated and dried fabric is conveyed through a softening station 37 before being conveyed through a thermal fixing station 311 and/or a chemical fixing station 417. As softening station 37, a soft tissue 43 can be used, wherein a softening agent, in particular a nanosilica-based softening agent, can be applied to the fabric in order to soften the fabric.

As indicated by the lower arrow in fig. 3, the coated, dried, optionally softened and fixed fabric, in particular the fabric wound on the reel 21, can be conveyed to a preshrinking finishing station 45, in which preshrinking finishing station 45 the fabric is wound again from the reel, conveyed through the preshrinking finishing station 45 and wound again onto the reel. The fabric is conveyed through a finishing preshrinking station to reduce or eliminate the shrinkage properties of the coated fabric. Fig. 9 depicts in more detail the coating station 39 and the drying

stations

11, 311 shown in fig. 3. The softening station 37 may be similar or identical to the soft tissue described in detail as the pre-treatment station 15 in fig. 4 and 7. Fig. 10 depicts an exemplary thermal fixing station 311 in more detail. Fig. 12 depicts an example of a preshrinking station in more detail.

Fig. 4 shows an exemplary pretreatment station 15 in the form of a soft tissue, also known as a padding machine. The fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabrics are wound from a reel 21, carried on a rotating drum through the pre-treatment station 15 and then wound again on the reel 21. The pre-treatment station 21 comprises a vat 215 filled with any of the aqueous solutions, in particular the aqueous solutions c1) to c3), through which the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarn or fabric is carried on four rotating drums 223 in the aqueous solution. Further, the pre-treatment station comprises two pressure rollers 414 facing each other and forming a slit through which the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is conveyed after leaving the vat 215 filled with aqueous solution.

Fig. 5 shows six exemplary standby stations 27, in the particular form of a rotary station. At the rotating station, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric wound on the reel 21 becomes rotated on the rotating table 227.

Fig. 6 shows a fibre, a yarn, a mass of yarn or a fabric wound from a reel 21, being conveyed through an exemplary washing station 5 in the form of a multi-cylinder washing machine 105, followed by an exemplary drying station 11 in the particular form of ten heated rollers 211, being again wound on the reel 11 after passing through the last heated roller 211. The multi-cylinder washing machine 105 in fig. 6 comprises six washing tanks 205. Each wash tank 205 comprises a rotating drum 25 and a pressure drum 415 arranged in cascade such that a fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabrics submerges and leaves the wash solution 305 five to six times in each wash tank. Upon leaving the first, third, fifth and sixth wash tub 205, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabrics are conveyed through pressure rollers 405 opposite each other and forming a slit.

When the aqueous solution c1) is used to pretreat a fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarn or a fabric, it is preferable to use an apparatus comprising the stations shown in fig. 4, fig. 5 and fig. 6 in this order, followed by a coloring station 9. A particular advantage associated with the repeatability and the precision of the adjustment of the colorfastness comes from the discontinuous process route, which allows to adjust the process parameters of each station independently and to carry out quality checks after each station, in contrast to the conventional continuous dyeing process shown in figure 1. In addition, a discontinuous process may bring the advantage that the production capacity of each station may be developed independently of the other stations. This may become very important in view of the long standby time of 14-36 hours in the standby station 27.

Fig. 7 shows the web folded in the transportable container 121, from where it is carried by the rotating rolls 23, in sequence through the pre-treatment station 15, a drying station in the form of a tenter 311, and again wound on a reel 21. For better readability, the mechanical parts already described previously have been marked with the same reference numerals. The pretreatment station 15 differs from the pretreatment station shown in FIG. 4 in that the number of the rotary drums 223 in the pretreatment cylinder 215 is two. As can be seen in fig. 7, instead of carrying the fabric from the movable container 121, the fabric can also be wound up by a reel 21. Tenter frame 311 is divided into tenter frame sections 511 arranged in rows, wherein each tenter frame section 511 comprises: air blowing module 611 to provide a continuous flow of hot air in each tenter frame section 511. Four such tenter frame sections 511 are shown in fig. 7. However, cut line C represents more than four tenter segments 511, for example five, six, eight, nine, ten, eleven, or twelve tenter segments may be used.

When pretreating a fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric with c2), it is preferable to use an apparatus comprising in order a pretreatment station 15, a drying station in the form of a tenter 311 and a coloring station 9. One advantage of this device, in particular in combination with the pretreatment d2), is the short processing time and the precision with which the moisture content of the fiber, yarn or fabric can be achieved when leaving the tenter frame 311, since the temperature and flow of hot air can be adjusted individually for each tenter frame section 411.

Fig. 8 shows an arrangement in which a fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is wound up from a reel 21 and carried through three pre-treatment stations 15 (of which the second is equivalent to that shown in fig. 4), a steam station 31, a wash tank 205 (for pre-washing before entering the subsequent multi-cylinder washing machine 105), ten drying stations 11 in the form of heated drums 211, in that order, and again wound up on the reel 21. For better readability, parts already described above are indicated with the same reference numerals. In the first and third pretreatment stations 15 shown in FIG. 8, only one rotating drum 223 is located in the pretreatment cylinder 215. Upon leaving the first pre-treatment station 15, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is not carried through the pressure rollers. The steam station 31 consists of three aligned steam station sections 131, wherein in each steam station section 131 a fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is carried on eight rotating drums 23 while being subjected to a steam treatment, in particular saturated steam. In the wash tank 205 for pre-washing between the steam station 31 and the multi-cylinder wash station 105, the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarn or fabric is carried on a drum in the wash solution 305 and through the pressure drum 415 before going to the multi-cylinder washing machine. Multi-cylinder washing machine 105 in FIG. 8 is similar to the multi-cylinder washing machine shown in FIG. 6. One difference is that the number of wash tanks 205 through which the fibre, yarn or fabric is carried is four. However, the multi-cylinder washing machine may also comprise more washing tanks 205, for example five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten washing tanks 205. Another difference is that in the multi-cylinder washing machine 105 shown in fig. 8, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is conveyed through the pressure roller 415 each time it leaves the washing tub 205.

When using c3) for pretreating the fibre, a yarn, a mass of yarn or a fabric, it is preferred to use an apparatus comprising in sequence one to three pretreatment stations 15, a steam station 31, possibly a washing tank 205 for prewashing, a multi-cylinder washing machine 105, a drying station 11 in the form of a heated roller 211 and a coloring station 9. The use of three independently adjustable steam station sections 131 for steam temperature and/or steam saturation allows for precise and repeatable softening of the fiber, yarn or fabric. The use of a pre-wash tank 205 that can independently adjust the composition of the wash solution 305 and/or the temperature of the wash solution allows for precise and repeatable control of the stripping process. Alternatively or additionally, the use of a multi-cylinder washing machine 105 comprising four to ten, preferably eight, independently adjustable wash tanks 205 for wash solution 305 and wash solution temperature allows for precise and repeatable control of the stripping process. A properly controlled stripping process is very important because on the one hand stripping increases the surface of the fiber, yarn or fabric, which increases the maximum amount of pigment that the fiber, yarn or fabric can absorb and/or increases the amount of pigment that the fiber, yarn or fabric absorbs when it is transported through the coloring station 9 under certain process parameters. On the other hand, stripping reduces the tensile strength of the fiber, yarn or fabric.

Using the arrangement of stations as shown and exemplified in fig. 8, preferably in combination with the pretreatment step d3) as described above, such a fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric can be obtained: having a tensile strength which is lower than the tensile strength of said fibers prior to the pretreatment step but which is not more than 20% lower than the tensile strength of said fibers prior to the pretreatment step, more preferably not more than 10% lower than the tensile strength of said fibers prior to the pretreatment step, each measured at 23 + -5 ℃, preferably at 23 + -2.5 ℃, more preferably at 23 + -1.5 ℃, most preferably at 23 + -0.5 ℃.

The steam station 31 shown in fig. 8 can also be used to subject the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric to steam, in particular saturated steam, after leaving the colouring station 9. In a preferred embodiment, steam station 31 is followed by a multi-cylinder washing machine 105. The multi-cylinder washing machine preferably comprises eight washing cylinders 405. A preferred arrangement of the washtub 405 and the washtub 405 preferably used is shown in fig. 6 and 8. The features and advantages described in relation to the use of a multi-cylinder washing machine before the fibre, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabric is conveyed through the colouring station 9 also apply in the case of the use of a multi-cylinder washing machine after leaving the colouring station 9 and the subsequent steam station 31. Alternatively or additionally, the wash tub 415 may also be arranged directly after the coloring station, so that the colored fibers, yarns or fabrics may be subjected to a washing step after leaving the coloring station 9. Further, the drying

stations

11, 211, 311 as exemplarily shown and described in fig. 6, 7 and 8 may be arranged behind the multi-cylinder washing machine 105 or behind the single-cylinder washing machine, so that the fiber, one kind of yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric may be subjected to a drying step after the washing step. Such a drying station 11 can be realized, for example, by means of a heated roller 211 or a tenter frame 311 as is shown by way of example in fig. 7, 9 and 10, wherein fig. 6 and 8 show the transport of the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric on the heated roller 211.

Figure 9 shows an apparatus in which the fabric is wound up from a reel 21, carried on a rotating roll 23, passed through a coating station 39, a drying station 11 in the form of a tenter 311 in turn, and wound up again on the reel 21. For better readability, parts already described above are indicated with the same reference numerals. The coating station 39 comprises eight roll coaters 139 arranged adjacent to each other. The use of a coating station 39 consisting of several pre-metering and/or post-metering devices results in a significant reduction in the space capacity required for the apparatus for dyeing or coating synthetic fabrics. Further, it was surprisingly found that the coating station 39 consisting of several pre-metering devices and/or post-metering devices arranged adjacent to each other improves the repeatability and the accuracy of the adjustment of the amount of pigment absorbed by the fabric compared to a cascade of dyeing stations and venting stations as shown in fig. 1. Tenter frame 311 comprises three tenter frame sections 411, wherein each section is heated individually. In the tenter 311 shown in fig. 9, the rotating rolls are arranged to carry a fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric three times through three tenter sections 411. With such a tenter frame 311, the space capacity required for the apparatus for dyeing or coating the fabric can be reduced.

As shown in fig. 9, the use of the coating station 39 as a tinting station illustrates the eighth aspect of the invention and is preferably used in combination with any of the first to third and/or fourth and/or seventh aspects of the invention.

Fig. 10 shows a heat-fixing station 217 in the form of a third tenter 311 comprising ten tenter sections 411, wherein the ten tenter sections 411 are divided into five groups, each group comprising two tenter sections 411 arranged adjacent to each other, wherein each group of tenter sections 411 is followed by an air ventilation section 611. The hot air blown into the tenter section 411 by the blowing module 511 passes through the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric carried through the heat-fixing station 217 and exits the tenter 311 through the air ventilation section 611.

Supplementing the apparatus for dyeing or coating synthetic fibres, a yarn, a mass of yarns or a fabric with a heat-fixing station 217 located after the dyeing station 9, in particular sequentially after the dyeing station 9 and the drying station 11, as exemplarily shown in fig. 10, illustrates an embodiment of the seventh aspect of the present invention and is preferably used in combination with any one of the first to third aspects, and/or the fourth aspect, and/or the fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention.

It must be clear that each of the tenter frames 311 shown in fig. 7, 9 and 10 can be used as the drying station 11 or as the heat-setting station 217.

Fig. 11 schematically shows a coloring apparatus preferably used when the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or a fabric is subjected to an intermediate treatment using at least one aqueous electrolyte solution comprising at least one cationic electrolyte, in particular at least one cationic polyelectrolyte, after the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or a fabric has been dyed and optionally subsequently washed. Such a device preferably comprises, in sequence, a first dyeing station 19, an optional aeration station 7, a washing station 5, an optional aeration station 7 and an electrolyte treatment station 33. It has been found to be advantageous to supplement such a device with a further dyeing station 19, a washing station 5 and optionally a ventilation station 7. In a preferred embodiment as shown in fig. 11, downstream of the electrolyte treatment station 33 is optionally in sequence a venting station 7, a washing station 5, an optional venting station 7 and a cascade of four dyeing stations 19, each optionally followed by a venting station 7. Downstream of the last dyeing station 19 may be in sequence a cascade of five washing stations 5, wherein a first of these washing stations 5 is optionally followed by a ventilation station 7, and wherein a second of these washing stations 4 is optionally followed by a hot air ventilation station 117. In a quite preferred embodiment, the cascade downstream of the five washing stations 5 is in turn a drying station 11 and/or a sizing station 15. Additionally or alternatively, before entering the first dyeing station 19, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is carried downstream through an accumulator station 1, a calender 3, a washing station 5, a ventilation station 7 and/or three washing stations 5 in sequence.

As the electrolytic processing station 33, a tank including an electrolytic aqueous solution may be used, as shown in fig. 11, in which a fiber, a kind of yarn, a plurality of yarns, or a fabric is carried through the tank including the electrolytic aqueous solution. Thus, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabrics are carried on three rotating rollers 123 in an aqueous electrolyte solution.

As the dyeing station 19, a vat comprising an aqueous dye formulation may be used, as shown in fig. 11, wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is transported through the vat comprising the aqueous dye formulation. The fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is thus transported in sequence on five rotating cylinders 123 in the aqueous dye preparation, through two pressure cylinders 515, on five rotating cylinders 123 in the aqueous dye preparation and through two pressure cylinders 515 outside the dye vat 29 and outside the aqueous dye preparation.

As the washing station 5, a vat comprising a washing solution can be used, as shown in fig. 11, wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is transported through said vat comprising a washing solution. Thus, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabrics are sequentially carried on the rotating drum 123 in the washing solution, optionally through a pressure roller 515 (the pressure roller 515 is followed by the rotating drum 123 in the washing solution), and through two pressure rollers 415 outside the washing tank 29. The washing step can also be carried out using the washing station 5 shown and described with reference to fig. 6 and 8.

In particular, in order to reduce or eliminate the shrinkage properties of the colored fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabric, the apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a preshrinking finishing station, wherein the colored fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabric is preferably transported through the preshrinking finishing station after the fixing step. In the preshrinking finishing station shown in fig. 12, a fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabrics are wound from a reel 21 or unloaded from a movable container 121, carried on rotating drums, passed sequentially through a wetting station 35, a drying station 11 consisting of 14 heating drums 211, a shrinking unit 47, a dryer 55, an accumulator station 41, and wound again on the reel 21 or loaded into the movable container 121. The wetting station 35 comprises a wetting cylinder 135 and a pressure roller 415, wherein the fiber, the yarn or the fabric is transported through the wetting cylinder 135 when entering the wetting station 35 and through the pressure roller 415 when leaving the wetting station 35. The shrinking unit 47 includes a pressure roller 51 and a rubber sleeve 49 gripped by three rubber sleeve cylinders (rubber sleeve cylinders) 53. The pressure roller 51 and the rubber sleeve cylinder 53 press the rubber sleeve 49 in the pressure area, so that the rubber sleeve becomes elastically stretched. The wetted, heated and thus partially dried fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarn or fabric is fed into the pressure zone and conveyed out of the pressure zone using a rubber sleeve. Upon exiting the pressure zone, the rubber sleeve returns to its original length, compressing the fiber, yarn or fabric, causing the fiber, yarn or fabric to shrink. As the shrunken fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabrics are conveyed through dryer 55, in this case on heated rolls, they are dried to maintain them in a shrunken state. After exiting the dryer 55 and before entering the accumulator section 41, the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric may be stretched between two rotating drums 23.

While modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the applicants to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and possibly come within the scope of their contribution to the art. The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The features disclosed in the description and in the drawings may be relevant for the invention in different embodiments, individually or in any combination.

Reference numerals

1 energy accumulator

3 calender

5. 105, 305 washing station

7 Ventilation station

9. 19, 39 tinting station

11. 211, 311 drying station

13 sizing station

15 pretreatment station

17. 217, 417 fixed station

19 dyeing station

21. 121 reel

23. 123, 223 rotary roller

25 liquid level

27 Standby station

29 dye vat

31 steam station

33 electrolyte treatment station

35 rinse station

37 softening station

39 coating station

41 energy storage station

43 Soft thin silk

45 preshrinking finishing station

47 contracting unit

49 rubber sleeve

51 pressure roller

53 rubber sleeve cylinder

55 dryer

105 multi-cylinder detergent

117 hot air ventilation station

121 transportable container

123 rotating roller in aqueous dye formulations

131 steam station section

135 wetting cylinder

139 roller coater

205 washing tank

211 heating roller

215 pretreatment cylinder

217. 311 Heat fixing station

Rotary roller in 223 pretreatment cylinder

227 rotating table

305 detergent solution

311 tenter

411 tenter section

415 pressure roller

417 chemical fixing station

511 air blowing module

515 pressure roller in aqueous dye preparation

611 air ventilation section

C cutting line

Claims

1. A process for dyeing, in particular vat dyeing or coating, of: synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, the method comprising the steps of:

Providing at least one fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or at least one yarn comprising or consisting of at least one yarn, in particular a plurality of yarns, comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers;

and

c1) providing an aqueous system comprising at least one lipase, in particular from a Candida species, and

d1) pretreating said plurality of fibers or said one yarn or said plurality of yarns or said fabric with an aqueous system comprising said at least one lipase, in particular a lipase from a candida species, and

e1) coating or dyeing the pretreated plurality of fibers, or the pretreated yarn or plurality of yarns, or the pretreated fabric with the at least one powdered dye or the powdered precursor dye, in particular powdered leuco dye, or with the at least one aqueous dye formulation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye formulation, in particular the basic aqueous leuco dye formulation;

or

e2) coating or dyeing the pretreated plurality of fibers, or the pretreated yarn or plurality of yarns, or the pretreated fabric with the at least one powdered dye or the powdered precursor dye, in particular the powdered leuco dye, or with the at least one aqueous dye formulation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye formulation, in particular the basic aqueous leuco dye formulation;

or

d3) pre-treating the plurality of fibers or the one yarn or the plurality of yarns or the fabric, in particular the plurality of fibers, one yarn or plurality of yarns, with the aqueous system comprising the at least one base and optionally at least one wetting agent; and

e3) coating or dyeing the pretreated plurality of fibers, or the pretreated yarn or plurality of yarns, or the pretreated fabric with the at least one powdered dye or the powdered precursor dye, in particular the powdered leuco dye, or with the at least one aqueous dye formulation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye formulation, in particular the basic aqueous leuco dye formulation.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the dye is a vat dye, in particular selected from indigo, indigoid dyes, in particular isoindigo, indirubin and/or 6, 6' -dibromoindigo, such as tylviolet, indanthrone dyes, anthracenedione dyes, anthraquinone dyes, naphthalene dyes and mixtures thereof; alternatively, the precursor dye is a leuco dye, in particular selected from leuco-indigo, leuco-indigo dyes, in particular leuco-isoindigo, leuco-isatin and/or leuco-6, 6' -dibromoindigo, such as leuco-tylviolet, leuco-indanthrone dyes, leuco-anthraquinone dyes, leuco-naphthalene dyes and mixtures thereof.

3. The process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the leuco dye is obtained from the corresponding vat dye by treatment with a reducing agent in an aqueous alkaline system, in particular selected from thiourea dioxide, sodium dithionite, sodium bisulfite, hydroxyacetone, sodium hydroxymethylsulfinate, borohydride and mixtures thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the aqueous basic system comprising the leuco dye is at least one aqueous precursor dye formulation.

5. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising treating the plurality of fibers, one yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric coated or dyed in steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively, with at least one oxidizing agent, in particular selected from oxygen; air, in particular heated air; an inorganic peroxy compound; hydrogen peroxide; potassium dichromate; sodium hypochlorite; peroxyacetic acid; and mixtures thereof.

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fibers are multicomponent fibers, in particular bicomponent fibers.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the multicomponent fibers, in particular bicomponent fibers, are solid or hollow side-by-side fibers, sheath-core fibers, islands-in-sea fibers (matrix-fibril type) and segmented pie fibers.

8. The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein the bicomponent fiber is made from: polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate; nylon 66 and polycyclohexyldimethylene terephthalate (PCT); polypropylene and polybutylene terephthalate; nylon 6 and copolyamides; polylactic acid and polystyrene; polyacetals, in particular polyoxymethylenes and polyurethanes; copolyester and high density polyethylene or copolyester and linear low density polyethylene; polyolefins, in particular polypropylene and polyamides.

9. The process according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the core-sheath bicomponent fiber comprises a polyester core, in particular a polyethylene terephthalate core and a copolyester sheath; or a polyester core, in particular a polyethylene terephthalate core and a polyethylene sheath; or a polypropylene core and a polyethylene sheath; or a polyamide core, in particular nylon 66, and a polyolefin sheath, in particular a polypropylene sheath, or

The sea-island bicomponent fiber comprises a polyolefin matrix, in particular a polypropylene matrix, and polyamide, in particular polyamide fibrils, embedded in the matrix.

10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the yarns are textured yarns and/or oriented yarns selected from the group consisting of Low Oriented Yarns (LOY), Medium Oriented Yarns (MOY), Partially Oriented Yarns (POY), High Oriented Yarns (HOY) and Fully Oriented Yarns (FOY).

11. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the one yarn or the plurality of yarns are or comprise textured and partially oriented yarns.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pretreated fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is dyed according to a pad-batch process using the aqueous dye preparation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular the basic aqueous leuco dye preparation.

13. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step d1), at least one lipase, in particular a lipase from the Candida species, is used for the pretreatment according to the pad-batch process, in particular at a temperature of 25-60 ℃, more in particular 30-50 ℃, and in particular at a pH in the range of 4.5-9, more in particular 5-8.

14. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein after the pretreatment step d1), d2) or d3), the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabric is kept at room temperature for about 14-36 hours, in particular about 18 hours to about 24 hours, and then washed, in particular in a multi-cylinder, more in particular 8-cylinder washing machine, using a temperature of 30-95 ℃, in particular 40-90 ℃.

15. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-treatment steps d1), d2) or d3) are performed while winding the plurality of fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric onto a roll.

16. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous dye preparation or the at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular the basic aqueous leuco dye preparation, applied in steps e1), e2) or e3) has a viscosity of 10-70 Dpa-s, in particular 30-60 Dpa-s, measured at 23 ± 5 ℃, preferably 23 ± 2.5 ℃, more preferably 23 ± 1.5 ℃, most preferably 23 ± 0.5 ℃.

17. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising subjecting the fiber, the one yarn, the plurality of yarns or the fabric to a water vapor treatment, in particular at 95-110 ℃, more in particular 98-102 ℃, for a period of time, in particular 1-10 minutes, more in particular 2-4 minutes, after the coating or dyeing step.

18. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising: after the treatment with steam, the steam-treated fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarn or a fabric is subjected to a washing step, in particular in a multi-cylinder, more particularly 8-cylinder washing machine, using a temperature of 25 to 98 ℃, in particular 30 to 95 ℃.

19. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein after dyeing the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is subjected to at least one washing step.

20. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the washed fibre, or the washed yarn or yarns or mass or the washed fabric is subjected to a drying step, in particular at a temperature of 98-130 ℃, more in particular 100-120 ℃.

21. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the washed fiber, the washed yarn, the washed bulk yarn or the washed fabric is subjected to a drying step for 30 seconds to 10 minutes, in particular 1-3 minutes.

22. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in steps e1), e2) or e3) the dye used for dyeing or coating is a pulverulent leuco dye or a basic aqueous leuco dye formulation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco-indigo dye formulation.

23. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein after the dyeing steps e1), e2) or e3) (first dyeing step), and optionally after at least one washing step, the fiber, one yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric is treated with at least one aqueous electrolyte solution, wherein the at least one aqueous electrolyte solution comprises at least one cationic electrolyte, in particular at least one cationic polyelectrolyte; and optionally followed by at least one washing step and then by a further dyeing step (second dyeing step), in particular according to the pad-batch process, using at least one pulverulent dye or at least one pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, or using at least one aqueous dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation, which is optionally followed by at least one washing step.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one cationic electrolyte is poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride).

25. The process according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the dye in the first dyeing step and/or in the second dyeing step is a powdery leuco dye, in particular a powdery leuco indigo dye, or an aqueous leuco dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco-indigo dye preparation.

26. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one drying step after the dyeing or coating step, in particular comprising subjecting the dyed or coated fiber, yarn, mass of yarn or fabric to a temperature of 100-.

27. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising performing at least one fixing step after the dyeing or coating step, in particular after the treatment step with an oxidizing agent, in particular comprising subjecting the dyed or coated and optionally dried fiber or fabric to a temperature of 160-.

28. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one aqueous dye preparation, in particular an aqueous indigo dye preparation, for coating, in particular after step d2), the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric, in particular the fabric, comprises at least one dye, in particular a vat dye, in particular the (unreduced) indigo dye, or a precursor dye, in particular the leuco-indigo dye, more particularly the vat dye, in particular the (unreduced) indigo dye; at least one binder, in particular a crosslinkable acrylic binder; at least one thickener; and optionally at least one softening agent, in particular a nanosilica-based softening agent.

29. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating step is carried out by means of blade coating or rotogravure, in particular blade coating.

30. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous dye preparation, in particular for dyeing, comprises at least one organic colouring substance as dye, preferably a non-ionic dye, more preferably a (unreduced) indigo dye; and at least one dispersant.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the dispersant is selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfates, alkyl aryl sulfonates, fatty alcohols, condensation products of amines and ethylene oxide, condensation products of naphthalene sulfonic acid and formaldehyde, lignosulfonates, and mixtures thereof.

32. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one aqueous dye formulation, in particular aqueous leuco dye formulation and more particularly aqueous leuco-indigo dye formulation, has a pH value of 10-13, in particular 10.5-12.5.

33. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the density of the at least one aqueous dye formulation, in particular aqueous leuco dye formulation and more particularly aqueous leuco-indigo dye formulation, at 25 ℃ is from 0.6 to 1.5g/mL, in particular from 0.8 to 1.2 g/mL.

34. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one aqueous dye preparation for dyeing, in particular an aqueous (unreduced) indigo dye preparation, comprises at least one dye, in particular a (unreduced) indigo dye; at least one silicone, in particular a nanosilica; at least one binder, in particular a crosslinkable acrylic binder; at least one thickener; at least one defoamer; at least one amine, in particular ammonia; and water.

35. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating or dyeing of the pretreated plurality of fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric with at least one powdered dye, in particular a powdered vat dye, more in particular the (unreduced) indigo dye, or a precursor dye, in particular the leuco-indigo dye, and more in particular a vat dye, in particular the (unreduced) indigo dye, or with at least one aqueous dye formulation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye formulation, is a warp or rope coating, or a warp or rope dyeing.

36. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, in which step b1), b2) or b3) comprises providing at least one pulverulent leuco dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco-indigo dye, or at least one aqueous leuco dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco-indigo dye preparation, and at least one migration inhibitor, at least one dispersant, at least one wetting agent and at least one cationic polymer, in particular a cationic polymer based on a polyamide-epichlorohydrin resin, and in which the mass of fibers, a yarn, a mass of yarns or a fabric is dyed using the pulverulent leuco dye or the aqueous leuco dye preparation as described under b1), b2) or b 3).

37. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 36, wherein steps b1), b2) or b3) comprise providing at least one pulverulent leuco dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco-indigo dye, or at least one aqueous leuco dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco-indigo dye preparation, and at least one migration inhibitor, at least one dispersant, at least one wetting agent and at least one cationic polymer, in particular a cationic polymer based on a polyamide-epichlorohydrin resin, and wherein the mass of fibers, a yarn, a mass of yarns or a fabric is coated with the pulverulent leuco dye or the aqueous leuco dye preparation as described under b1), b2) or b 3).

38. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous dye formulation comprises an indigo dye, at least one base, at least one wetting agent and optionally at least one carrier agent.

39. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the pre-treatment step d3) the aqueous system has a pH value of 10-13, in particular 10.5-12.0, and/or a temperature of 20-70 ℃, in particular 30-60 ℃, and/or wherein the pre-treatment step d3) is carried out in such a way that the surface material of the pre-treated synthetic fibers is at least partially peeled off, whereby the synthetic fibers are reduced in weight, in particular by 5-35%, more in particular by 10-30%.

40. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-treatment step d3) further comprises subjecting the plurality of fibers, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric to a steam treatment, in particular a saturated steam treatment, for a period of time, in particular 15-100 seconds, preferably 30-60 seconds.

41. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in the pre-treatment d1), d2) or d3) the plurality of fibers, one yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is subjected to the aqueous system for not more than 30 seconds, in particular not more than 15 seconds.

42. The method according to any one of claims 27 to 41, further comprising at least one preshrinking step of the at least one dyed fabric after the fixing step.

43. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns and/or a fabric is subjected to a cationization step after the pretreatment step and before the coating or dyeing step, in particular before the fixing step.

44. Process according to any one of claims 27 to 43, wherein, in the fixing step, the coated or dyed fiber, yarn or fabric, in particular the dyed fiber, yarn or fabric, is treated with at least one aqueous formulation, in particular simultaneously with hot water steam treatment, wherein the aqueous formulation comprises at least one condensation product of an aliphatic polyamine with an epihalohydrin, in particular epichlorohydrin.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein the aqueous formulation has a pH value of 3-6, in particular 3.5-5, and/or a temperature of 40-95 ℃, in particular 55-85 ℃.

46. A process according to claim 44 or 45, wherein the condensation product of an aliphatic polyamine with a epihalohydrin comprises a homopolymer of diallylamine, a homopolymer of N-methyl-diallylamine, or a cationic reaction product of a copolymer of diallylamine and N-methyl-diallylamine with a epihalohydrin, in particular epichlorohydrin.

47. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 46, wherein the treatment with the at least one aqueous electrolyte solution comprising at least one cationic electrolyte is carried out at a pressure of 60-120bar, in particular 70-100 bar.

48. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous system comprising nanoscale polyurethane particles is a nanodispersion of a self-crosslinking amphoteric or anionic polyether polyurethane, in particular having an average particle size of less than 100 nm.

49. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wetting agent comprises at least one anionic phosphate ester.

50. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step a) a multitude of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or a mixture of polyamide fibers and cotton fibers and/or at least one yarn, a multitude of yarns or at least one fabric is provided, wherein the yarn, fabric comprises or consists of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, and cotton fibers.

51. The process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the particle size of the powdered dye, in particular powdered indigo dye, provided in step b1), b2) or b3) is less than 10 μ ι η, and in particular is 1-5 μ ι η.

52. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of fibers or the fabric pretreated according to step d3) after the pretreatment step has a tensile strength which is lower than the tensile strength of the fibers before the pretreatment step, in particular which is not more than 20% lower than the tensile strength of the fibers before the pretreatment step, more in particular which is not more than 10% lower than the tensile strength of the fibers before the pretreatment step, each of the tensile strengths being measured at 23 ± 5 ℃, preferably 23 ± 2.5 ℃, more preferably 23 ± 1.5 ℃, most preferably 23 ± 0.5 ℃, wherein the plurality of fibers comprises or consists of synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, such as multicomponent fibers or bicomponent fibers, the fabric comprises or consists of synthetic fibers, the synthetic fibers are in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, for example multicomponent fibers or bicomponent fibers.

53. The method of any one of the preceding claims,

-subjecting a fabric made of synthetic fibers, one yarn or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers to a pre-treatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), and then coating the pre-treated fabric according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively; or therein

-subjecting a synthetic fiber or a yarn or a plurality of yarns to a pre-treatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), making said fiber, yarn or plurality of yarns into a fabric and coating or dyeing, in particular coating said fabric, according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively, wherein said yarn or plurality of yarns comprises or consists of synthetic fibers; or therein

-subjecting the synthetic fiber or one or a plurality of yarns to a pre-treatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), dyeing said fiber, one or a plurality of yarns according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively, wherein said one or a plurality of yarns comprise or consist of synthetic fibers; or therein

-subjecting a synthetic fiber or a yarn or a plurality of yarns to a pre-treatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), dyeing said fiber, yarn or plurality of yarns according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively, making said fiber, yarn or plurality of yarns into a fabric, and coating or dyeing, in particular coating, said fabric according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively, wherein said yarn or plurality of yarns comprises or consists of synthetic fibers; or therein

-subjecting a synthetic fiber or a yarn or a plurality of yarns to a pre-treatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), making said fiber, a yarn or a plurality of yarns into a fabric, subjecting said fabric to a pre-treatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), and subsequently coating or dyeing, in particular coating, said fabric according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively, wherein said yarn or plurality of yarns comprises or consists of synthetic fibers; or therein

-subjecting a synthetic fiber or a yarn or a plurality of yarns to a pretreatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), dyeing said fiber, yarn or plurality of yarns according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively, and subsequently making it into a fabric, subjecting said fabric to a pretreatment step d1), d2) or d3), in particular d2), and subsequently coating or dyeing, in particular coating, said fabric according to steps e1), e2) or e3), respectively, wherein said yarn or plurality of yarns comprises or consists of synthetic fibers.

54. Dyed synthetic fibers, in particular dyed polyester fibers and/or dyed polyamide fibers or dyed one yarn or dyed plurality of yarns or dyed fabric, obtained or obtainable according to the method of any one of the preceding claims.

55. The dyed synthetic fiber or dyed one yarn or dyed plurality of yarns or dyed fabric of claim 54, wherein the polyester fiber is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber and poly-1, 4-cyclohexyldimethanol terephthalate (PCDT) fiber.

56. Coated synthetic fiber, in particular coated polyester fiber and/or coated polyamide fiber or coated one kind of yarn or coated plurality of yarns or coated fabric, obtained or obtainable according to the method of any one of claims 1 to 53.

57. The coated synthetic fiber or coated yarn or coated plurality of yarns or coated fabric of claim 56, wherein said polyester fiber is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber and poly-1, 4-cyclohexyldimethylene terephthalate (PCDT) fiber.

58. A device for dyeing or coating, preferably according to the method of any one of claims 1 to 53, preferably according to any one of claims 54 to 57: synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of yarns; said yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, said device comprising:

x) a dyeing station (9), in particular a coating station (39) or a dyeing station (19), wherein a dye preparation comprising at least one pulverulent dye or pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, and/or at least one aqueous dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation, is applied to the fibers, one yarn, a plurality of yarns or the fabric conveyed through the dyeing station (9), and

w) a drying station (11, 211, 311), wherein the fiber, yarn or fabric is conveyed through the drying station (11, 211, 311) before it enters the dyeing station (9), in particular directly before it enters the dyeing station (9), so that the dye preparation is applied to the dried fiber, yarn or fabric in the dyeing station (9).

59. The device according to claim 58, wherein after leaving the drying station (11, 211, 311) the moisture content of the dried fiber, yarn or fabric is less than 1 wt. -%, preferably less than 0.5 wt. -%, more preferably less than 0.25 wt. -%, and/or the amount of dye formulation absorbed in the subsequent coloring station is preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 70%, most preferably at least 60% and/or preferably at most 90%, more preferably at most 80%, most preferably at most 70% of the dried mass of the fiber, yarn or fabric.

60. The device according to claim 58 or 59, wherein the drying station (11) comprises at least one, preferably at least two or four or six heated rolls, and/or preferably at most fourteen, more preferably at most twelve or ten or eight heated rolls (211), which rolls (211) preferably conductively heat the fibre, a yarn, a multitude of yarns or a fabric transported thereon by a surface temperature, preferably at least 100 ℃, more preferably at least 120 ℃, most preferably at least 130 ℃ and/or preferably at most 140 ℃, more preferably at most 130 ℃.

61. The device according to any of claims 58 to 60, wherein the drying station (11) comprises at least one tenter frame (311) wherein the fiber, yarn or fabric is heated by convection of air, preferably at a temperature of at least 120 ℃, more preferably at least 140 ℃, and/or preferably at most 180 ℃, more preferably at most 160 ℃, most preferably at most 145 ℃, or about 140 ℃.

62. The device according to any one of claims 58 to 61, further comprising a ventilation station (7) through which the fibre, yarn or fabric is conveyed before entering the drying station (11), in which the fibre, yarn or fabric is air-dried, wherein the temperature of the air is preferably at least 20 ℃ and/or at most 40 ℃, more preferably about 25 ℃.

63. The apparatus according to any one of claims 58 to 62, further comprising a pre-treatment station (15) for pre-treating the fiber, yarn or fabric with one of the aqueous solutions c1), c2) or c3), preferably by one of the pre-treatment steps d1), d2) or d3), before conveying the fiber, yarn or fabric sequentially through the drying station (11, 211, 311) and the coloring station (9), more preferably before conveying the fiber, yarn or fabric sequentially through the ventilation station (7), the drying station (11, 211, 311) and the coloring station (9).

64. Device for dyeing or coating fabrics comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers according to any of claims 58 to 63, or comprising or consisting of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, wherein the device is supplemented by a second device according to any of claims 58 to 63, wherein the dyeing station of the first device is a dyeing station (19), and wherein the dyeing station of the second device is a coating station (39), wherein the device is arranged to transport the fabrics through the dyeing station (19) before through the coating station (39).

65. Apparatus for dyeing or coating synthetic fibres, or one yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibres, or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibres, according to any one of claims 58 to 63, wherein the apparatus is supplemented by a second apparatus according to any one of claims 57 to 62, wherein the dyeing station of the first apparatus is a dyeing station (19), and wherein the dyeing station of the second apparatus is a coating station (39), wherein the apparatus is arranged to transport the fibre, one yarn or plurality of yarns first through the dyeing station (19) and then through the coating station (39).

66. An apparatus for dyeing or coating a fibre, a yarn or a plurality of yarns according to claim 65, further comprising a weaving machine for weaving the fibre, a yarn or a plurality of yarns into a fabric after leaving the dyeing station (19) and before entering the coating station (39).

67. A device, preferably according to any one of claims 58 to 66, for dyeing, preferably according to the method of any one of claims 1 to 53, preferably according to any one of claims 54 to 55, of: synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, the device comprising:

x1) a dyeing station (19), wherein a dye preparation is applied to the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric conveyed through the dyeing station (19), wherein the dye preparation comprises at least one pulverulent dye or pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, and/or at least one aqueous dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation, and

y1) a drying station (11, 211, 311) and/or a hot-air ventilation station (117) in which the fibre, a yarn, a quantity of yarn or fabric to which the dye preparation is applied is dried, wherein the dyeing station (19) comprises only one vat (29) filled with the dye preparation, and wherein the rollers are arranged such that the fibre, a yarn, a quantity of yarn or fibre is immersed once in the dye preparation and then leaves the dye preparation for the drying station (11, 211, 311) and/or the hot-air ventilation station (7) without being immersed again in the dye preparation.

68. Apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the dyeing station (19) comprises at least two pressure rollers (415) opposite each other and forming a slit through which the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is conveyed under pressure after leaving the dye preparation, preferably at least 60bar, more preferably at least 80bar, and/or preferably at most 110bar, more preferably at most 90 bar.

69. The device of claim 67 or 68, wherein the temperature of the dye formulation is at least 20 ℃, preferably at least 40 ℃, more preferably at least 50 ℃ and/or at most 90 ℃, preferably at most 70 ℃, more preferably at most 60 ℃.

70. Apparatus according to one of claims 60 to 69, wherein the amount of dye preparation applied to the fibre, a yarn, a mass of yarn or fabric after leaving the dyeing station is preferably at least 80%, and/or preferably at most 90%, more preferably about 90%, of the mass of the fibre, a yarn, a mass of yarn or fabric immediately before entering the dyeing station (19).

71. The device according to one of claims 58 to 70, further comprising a hot air ventilation station (117) through which the fiber, yarn or fabric is conveyed after leaving the dyeing station (19), in which the fiber, yarn or fabric is dried by hot air, wherein the temperature of the hot air is preferably at least 60 ℃, more preferably at least 80 ℃, most preferably at least 100 ℃, and/or preferably at most 140 ℃, more preferably at most 120 ℃, most preferably at most 110 ℃, or preferably about 100 ℃.

72. The device according to one of claims 58 to 71, further comprising a drying station (11, 211, 311) through which the fiber, yarn, mass of yarn or fabric is conveyed after leaving the dyeing station (19), preferably after leaving the dyeing station and after leaving a subsequent hot air ventilation station (117), wherein the drying station preferably comprises at least one, preferably at least two or four or six heated rolls and/or preferably at most fourteen, more preferably at most twelve or ten or eight heated rolls, which preferably heat the fiber, yarn, mass of yarn or fabric conveyed on the rolls by surface temperature conduction, the surface temperature preferably being at least 100 ℃, more preferably at least 120 ℃, most preferably at least 130 ℃ and/or preferably at most 140 ℃, more preferably at most 130 c and/or wherein the drying station preferably comprises at least one tenter frame wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is heated by convection of air, preferably the air has a temperature of at least 120 c, more preferably at least 140 c and/or preferably at most 180 c, more preferably at most 160 c, most preferably at most 145 c or about 140 c.

73. Apparatus according to one of claims 67 to 72, further comprising a pre-treatment station (15) for pre-treating the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabric with one of the aqueous solutions c1), c2) or c3), preferably by one of the pre-treatment steps d1, d2) or d3, before conveying the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabric through the dyeing station (19), preferably before conveying the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabric sequentially through the drying station (11, 211, 311) and the dyeing station (19), more preferably before conveying the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabric sequentially through the ventilation station (7), the drying station (11, 211, 311) and the dyeing station (19).

74. Device for dyeing or coating a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or comprising or consisting of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, according to one of claims 67 to 73, wherein the device is supplemented by a second device according to one of claims 58 to 63, wherein the dyeing station of the second device is a coating station (39), wherein the device is arranged such that the fabric is first conveyed through the dyeing station (19) and then through the coating station (39).

75. Device for dyeing or coating synthetic fibres, or one yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibres, or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibres, according to one of claims 67 to 73, wherein the device is supplemented by a second device according to one of claims 58 to 63, wherein the dyeing station of the second device is a coating station (39), wherein the device is arranged such that the fibre, one yarn or a plurality of yarns is first conveyed through the dyeing station (19) and then through the coating station (39).

76. An apparatus for dyeing or coating said fiber, or a yarn, or a plurality of yarns according to claim 75, further comprising a weaving machine for weaving said fiber, yarn, or plurality of yarns into a fabric after exiting the dyeing station (19) and before entering the coating station (39).

77. A device, preferably according to one of claims 58 to 66, for coating, preferably according to the method of one of claims 1 to 53, preferably according to one of claims 56 to 57: synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, the device comprising:

x2), wherein a dye preparation is applied to the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric, in particular the fabric, conveyed through the coating station (39), wherein the dye preparation comprises at least one pulverulent dye or a pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, and/or at least one aqueous dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation.

78. Device according to claim 77, wherein the coating station comprises at least one post-metering device, such as a blade coater, in particular arranged with a floating knife, or a carpet knife, or a roller knife.

79. The device according to claim 77 or 78, which is supplemented by a drying station (11, 211, 311), through which the fiber, yarn or fabric is conveyed after leaving the coating station (39), wherein the drying station preferably comprises at least one, preferably at least two or four or six heated rolls, and/or preferably at most fourteen, more preferably at most twelve or ten or eight heated rolls, which preferably conductively heat the fiber, yarn or fabric conveyed on the rolls by a surface temperature, which preferably is at least 100 ℃, more preferably at least 120 ℃, most preferably at least 130 ℃ and/or preferably at most 140 ℃, more preferably at most 130 ℃, and/or wherein the drying station preferably comprises at least one tenter, wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is heated by convection of air, preferably the air has a temperature of at least 120 ℃, more preferably at least 140 ℃ and/or preferably at most 180 ℃, more preferably at most 160 ℃, most preferably at most 145 ℃, or about 140 ℃.

80. Apparatus according to one of claims 77 to 79, further comprising a pre-treatment station (15) for pre-treating the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabric with one of the aqueous solutions c1), c2) or c3, preferably by one of the pre-treatment steps d1), d2) or d3, before conveying the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabric through the coating station (39), preferably before conveying it in sequence through a drying station (11, 211, 311) and the coating station (39), more preferably before conveying it in sequence through a ventilation station (7), a drying station (11, 211, 311) and the coating station (39).

81. Device for dyeing or coating a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or comprising or consisting of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, according to one of claims 77 to 80, wherein the device is supplemented by a second device according to one of claims 58 to 76, wherein the dyeing station of the second device is a dyeing station (19), wherein the device is arranged to transport the fabric through the dyeing station (19) first and then through the coating station (39).

82. Device for dyeing or coating synthetic fibres, or one yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibres, or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibres, according to one of claims 77 to 80, wherein the device is supplemented by a second device according to one of claims 58 to 76, wherein the dyeing station of the second device is a dyeing station (19), wherein the device is arranged such that the fibre, one yarn or a plurality of yarns is first conveyed through the dyeing station (19) and then through the coating station (39).

83. Apparatus for dyeing or coating the synthetic fibers or one yarn or a plurality of yarns according to claim 82, further comprising a weaving machine for weaving the fibers, one yarn or a plurality of yarns into a fabric after leaving the dyeing station (19) and before entering the coating station (39).

84. A device, preferably according to one of claims 58 to 83, for dyeing or coating, preferably according to the method of one of claims 1 to 53, preferably according to one of claims 54 to 57: synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers; or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers; or a fabric comprising or consisting of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, the device comprising:

x) a dyeing station (9), in particular a coating station (39) or a dyeing station (19), in which a dye preparation is applied to the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or the fabric conveyed through the dyeing station (9), wherein the dye preparation comprises at least one pulverulent dye or pulverulent precursor dye, in particular a pulverulent leuco dye, and/or at least one aqueous dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco dye preparation, and

z1) a heat-fixing station (217, 311) through which the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric to which the dye preparation has been applied is conveyed after leaving the colouring station (9) in order to fix the applied dye preparation to the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric by heating the fibre, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or fabric, or

Z2) at least one, preferably three, chemical fixing stations (417) through which the fiber, a yarn, a multitude of yarns or a fabric, to which the dye preparation has been applied, is conveyed after leaving the dyeing station, wherein an aqueous preparation containing at least one condensation product of an aliphatic polyamine with a epihalohydrin, in particular epichlorohydrin, is applied to the fiber, a yarn, a multitude of yarns or a fabric, in order to fix the applied dye preparation to the fiber, a yarn, a multitude of yarns or fabric.

85. The apparatus according to claim 84, wherein the heat-fixing station comprises a tenter frame (311) wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is heated by convection of air, preferably the air has a temperature of at least 130 ℃, more preferably at least 150 ℃, most preferably at least 170 ℃ and/or preferably at most 220 ℃, more preferably at most 200 ℃, most preferably at most 180 ℃.

86. The apparatus of claim 84 or 85, wherein the temperature of the aqueous formulation in the at least one chemical fixation station is at least 40 ℃, preferably at least 55 ℃ and/or at most 95 ℃, preferably at most 85 ℃.

87. The device according to one of claims 84 to 86, comprising

A hot air ventilation station (117) through which the fiber, yarn or fabric is conveyed after leaving the colouring station (9) and before entering the fixing station (17), in which the fiber, yarn or fabric is dried by hot air, wherein the temperature of the hot air is preferably at least 60 ℃, more preferably at least 80 ℃, most preferably at least 100 ℃, and/or preferably at most 140 ℃, more preferably at most 120 ℃, most preferably at most 110 ℃, or preferably about 100 ℃.

88. The apparatus according to one of claims 84 to 87, further comprising a drying station (11, 211, 311) through which the fiber, yarn or fabric is conveyed after leaving the coloring station (9), preferably after leaving the coloring station and after leaving a subsequent hot air ventilation station (17), and before entering the fixing station (17), wherein the drying station preferably comprises at least one, preferably at least two or four or six heated rolls, and/or preferably at most fourteen, more preferably at most twelve or ten or eight heated rolls, wherein the rolls preferably heat the fiber, yarn or fabric conveyed on the rolls by surface temperature conduction, the surface temperature preferably being at least 100 ℃, more preferably at least 120 ℃, most preferably at least 130 ℃ and/or preferably at most 140 ℃, more preferably at most 130 ℃, and/or wherein the drying station preferably comprises at least one tenter frame wherein the fiber, a yarn, a plurality of yarns or a fabric is heated by convection of air, preferably the temperature of the air is at least 120 ℃, more preferably at least 140 ℃, and/or preferably at most 180 ℃, more preferably at most 160 ℃, most preferably at most 145 ℃, or about 140 ℃.

89. Device according to one of claims 58 to 66 or 74 to 88, in which the aqueous dye preparation has a viscosity of 10-70 Dpa-s, in particular 30-60 Dpa-s, each measured at 23 ± 5 ℃, preferably 23 ± 2.5 ℃, more preferably 23 ± 1.5 ℃, most preferably 23 ± 0.5 ℃.

90. The device according to one of claims 58 to 89, wherein the dye preparation applied to the fiber, a yarn, a mass of yarns or fabric conveyed through the dyeing station (9) is a vat dye, in particular selected from indigo, indigoid dyes, in particular isoindigo, indirubin and/or 6, 6' -dibromoindigo, such as tylviolet, indanthrone dyes, anthraquinone dyes, naphthalene dyes and mixtures thereof; alternatively, the precursor dye is a leuco dye, in particular selected from leuco-indigo, leuco-indigo dyes, in particular leuco-isoindigo, leuco-isatin and/or leuco-6, 6' -dibromoindigo, such as leuco-tylviolet, leuco-indanthrone dyes, leuco-anthraquinone dyes, leuco-naphthalene dyes and mixtures thereof.

91. Synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers or one yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers or a yarn comprising or consisting of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, wherein the fibers are dyed and/or coated by a device according to one of claims 58 to 90 and/or by a method according to one of claims 1 to 53.

92. A synthetic fibre or a yarn or a plurality of yarns or fabrics according to claim 91 wherein said polyester fibre is selected from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres and poly-1, 4-cyclohexyldimethanol terephthalate (PCDT) fibres.

93. Synthetic fibers, in particular polyester fibers and/or polyamide fibers, or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a plurality of yarns comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a fabric comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, or a yarn comprising or consisting of synthetic fibers, wherein,

the fibers are dyed or coated with a dye preparation comprising at least one pulverulent indigo dye or pulverulent precursor indigo dye, and/or wherein

The fibers are dyed or coated with at least one aqueous indigo dye preparation or at least one aqueous precursor indigo dye preparation, in particular a basic aqueous leuco indigo dye preparation, wherein

The dyed and/or coated fibers have a dry crockfastness of from 1.0 to 5.0, preferably from 2.0 to 4.0, more preferably from 2.5 to 3.5, wherein the dry crockfastness is in accordance with ISO 105-X12: 2001(E), and/or wherein

The dyed and/or coated fibers have a wet crockfastness of from 0.5 to 3.0, preferably from 1.5 to 2.5, more preferably from 1.0 to 2.0, wherein the wet crockfastness is in accordance with ISO 105-X12: 2001 (E).

94. Synthetic fibre or a yarn or a multitude of yarns or fabrics according to claim 91, wherein the fibre is dyed and/or coated by a device according to one of claims 58 to 90 and/or by a method according to one of claims 1 to 53.

95. A synthetic fibre or a yarn or a plurality of yarns or fabrics according to claim 93 or 94 wherein said fibre has been pre-treated with an aqueous system comprising at least one lipase, in particular a lipase from Candida species or with an aqueous system comprising nano-sized polyurethane particles, at least one cross-linking agent and at least one wetting agent.