US2405669A

US2405669A - Coloration of textile materials

Info

Publication number: US2405669A
Application number: US213585A
Authority: US
Inventors: Platt Herbert; Cyril M Croft
Original assignee: Celanese Corp
Current assignee: Celanese Corp
Priority date: 1938-06-14
Filing date: 1938-06-14
Publication date: 1946-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1963-08-13
Also published as: GB530013A; US2271874A

Description

Aug, m 94@ H. PLTT ETAL COLORATION OF vTEX'IE'ILE MATERIALS :s sheets-sheet 1 Filed June .14, 1938 HII'IHHHHHIIIIHHIHII l Il.

INVENTORS HERBEKI'PL'ATT .CYR I L M. CROFT coLoRAT'IoN oF TEXTILE MATERIALS H. PLATT Sla-rm..

Filed .June 14, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS HRBERT PLATT CYRIL M. CROFT A/ ATTRNEYS H Aug. 1.3, 1946. "H, PLA-r1- TAL I' 2,405,669

coLoRATIoN oF TEXTILE MATERIALS Filed 'Tune 14,' 19:58 s Sheets-sneer s l; :LL-.42

HERBERT LATT cYRgL M. RoFT Patented Aug. 13, 1946 entre COLORATION F TEXTILE MATERIALS Herbert Platt and Cyril M. Croft, Cumberland,

assignors to Celanes'e Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application June 14, 1938, Serial No. 213,585

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the dyeing of textile materials, especially those containing thermoplastic yarns or filaments, with dyes which have commercially rapid dye affinity for said yarns or laments at'elevated temperatures.

An object of the invention is the application of dyes to materials containing organic derivative of cellulose yarns or filaments. Another object of the invention is the method o-f dyeing textile materials containing organic derivative of cellulose yarns or filaments whereinV the dye is lapplied uniformly, the dye is substantially exhausted and the time required to bring the textile material to a good shade is reduced. Another object of the invention is the dyeing of textile materials containing organic derivative of cellulose yarns or filaments with dyes having an affinity for the organic derivative of cellulose only at elevated temperatures. A still further object of our invention is the construction of a dye jig which will dye fabrics with high temperature dyes. Other objects of our invention will appear from the following detailed description and drawings.

In the drawings,.wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements in the respective views:

Fig. 1 is a side View, partially in section, of a dye jig constructed in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is an end View of the dye jig shown in Fig. 1,

'.ing the loading of the dye jig, and

Fig. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the unloading of the dye jig.

The dyeing of fabrics containing thermoplastic yarns has been effected only by the use of special processes, as compared to the dyeing of 'other types of fabric, and by a careful'selection of dyestuffs. Fabrics containing thermoplastic yarns, which are woven into twills,'taffetas, etc., are normally dyed in a jig as the batch process of dyeing or dyeing on the winch causes creases to be formed in the fabric. Moreover, the yarns are somewhat softened due to the heat of the dye bath and/or reagents contained in the bath causing the creases to become permanent. In order to'avoid creasing of the fabric, the fabric is dyed on devices which maintain the fabric in an open width or flattened condition, a common type of such a device being a jig. Although the use of a jig overcame the formation of creases, it limited the number of dyestufis that could be employed. For instance, prior to this invention high temperature dyestuffs could not be used in a jig with commercial success. By high temperature dyestuffs is meant those dyestuffs that have good anity for the fabric only at temperatures of 70 C. or above. These dyestuffs, being sensitive to the temperature ofthe fabric, produced streaky dyeings with shaded selvedges and ends due to the uneven cooling of the fabric on the roll and the temperature differential between the center and edges of the fabric when on the roll. We have now found that a full range of dyestuffs, including the high temperature dyestuffs, may be applied on the jig to fabrics containing `thermoplastic yarns by maintaining the temperature 'of both rolls of fabric at a` temperature above the critical temperature of that component of the dyestuff requiring the higher temperature. This not only permits the use of a wider range of dyestuifs and effects uniform dyeing, but also greatly decreases the timev of dyeing,

thus effecting greater production per machine and man hour.

By employing this invention a better penetration of the dyestui into the filaments is obtained and an improved hand is obtained, it being somewhat fuller than that obtained by prior methods. As stated above, the invention effects an economy in the dyeing process as there is an improved speed of dyeing. VThere is also eifectd a saving in dyestuff and steam employed, the bath being radily exhausted of dyestuif and escape of steam is confined. y

In accordance with our invention, we dye fabrics containing thermoplastic yarns in an open Width and flattened condition on a jig while maintaining a substantially uniform temperature throughout both rolls of fabric, which temperature is high enough to effect a dyeing with high temperature dyestuffs. construct a novel jig, also forming a part of this invention, having an enclosed space above the tub in which the fabric is being treated. f

This invention is applicable to the dyeing of any fabric regardless of composition or structure. However, it is especially applicable to the dyeing of closely woven taetas and crepes that are made of or contain thermoplastic yarns.. Any. type f of fabric may be treated in accordance with this To accomplish this we aioacce made entirely of thermoplastic yarns or thermoplastic yarns may be interwoven or knitted with yarns of other materials, such as cotton, silk, wool, regenerated cellulose, etc. Even the yarns themselves may be made of a mixture of thermoplastic bers or laments and bers or filaments of nonthermoplastic materials, and these yarns may be interwoven or knitted with yarns of thermoplastic material or yarns of non-thermoplastic material. In the practice prior to this invention it was found that the care to be given to fabric containing these thermoplastic yarns was directly proportional to the amount of thermoplastic yarns present in the fabric.

The thermoplastic material of the fabric may be any suitable thermoplastic material, such as the organic derivatives of cellulose which include the organic esters of cellulose and the cellulose ethers. Examples of the organic esters of cellulose are cellulose acetate, cellulose formate, cellulose propionate and cellulose butyrate, while examples of the ethers of cellulose are ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose and benzyl cellulose. l

The thermoplastic material may be present in the fabric as substantially continuous .filaments or as bers, or may even be present as a coating or dressing.

These fabrics may be dyed with any suitable dyestuif having affinity therefor or for one constituent thereof. Mixtures of dyestuff may be employed, for instance, in dyeing a fabric containing cotton and cellulose acetate, the dye bath may contain dyestuffs having affinity for cotton and dyestuffs having an ainity for cellulose acetate. Also a mixture of dyestuffs having affinity for the same constituent may be employed to produce a desired shade. For instance, a blue and a red dyestuf, each having an afnity for cellulose acetate, may be employed. All or any of the dyestus employed may be high temperature dyestuifs.

The dyeing may ybe performed by passing the fabric any number of times through .the liquid in the jig. The liquid or dye bath in the jig may be a water emulsion or dispersion of the dyestuff with suitable solubilizing agents, dispersing `agents and the like, such as Turkey red oil, dexcompounds, benzyl ethyl aniline, etc., ror finishes t which are intended t remain on the fabric, such as oils, resins and stearyl chloride.

The bath may be maintained at any suitable temperature at or below its boiling point, while the enclosed space above the bath, in which space is contained the bulk of the fabric being dyed, is maintained at the same temperature as the bath or, as necessary in commercial production, a few degrees lower. Although the bath may be maintained at any temperature, this invention is primarily concerned with the use Yof high temperature dyestuifs, in which case the temperature of the bath is preferably maintained at or above C., and for some of the fast to acid fading high temperature dyestuis, the bath is maintained kat or just below its boiling point, while the rolls of fabric are maintained at or above 80 C. Y

In the drawings is shown a jig constructed in iccordance with this invention. With 'particular reference to Figs. l and 2 the jig is constructed of a frame I having mounted therein a tub 2. At each side of the frame I is mounted a pair of

uprights

3 and 4. The uprights 3, of which there is one on each side of the jig, support a shaft '5. upon which is mounted a shell-6 about which the fabric is rolled during the dyeing operation, Near the top of the uprights 3 there is provided an open top bearing I for supporting a shaft 8 adapted to support a roll of fabric B during the loading of the jig. In the uprights A, of which there is one on each side of the jig, is a shaft 9 which has mounted thereon a shell ll about which the fabric is adapted to be rolled during the dyeing operation. The upper end of the uprights l are provided with bearings I2 adapted to support a square shaft I3. On one end of the shaft 9 at the outside of the frame member is mounted a sprocket I4, while on a similar end of shaft I3 is also mounted a sprocket I5. By means of sprocket chain i6 the shaft 9 drives shaft I3 for the purpose of rolling up and unloading the fabric I3' from the jig. Mounted in the tub are suitable guide rollers Il for directing the fabric through the bath contained therein. Also mounted in the jig is a spreader arm I8 of any suitable type having mounted thereon spreader-controlling rollers I9 which act through the spreader arm I8 to regulate the tension on the fabric and the relative speeds of the

shafts

5 and 9.

For driving the jig there is provided a suitable motor 2| which acts through a suitable transmission and speed reducing device 22 to rotate the

shafts

5 and 9, the relative speeds of which and their direction of travel are controlled by suitable mechanism 23 partly responsive to the spreader arm I8.

At the outside of the jig frame is a second frame comprising four hollow corner posts 24. These corner posts are shown in cross-section in Figs. 3 and 4. These corner posts support an enclosure for the space immediately above the tub in which the fabric is rolled from shaft 5 to the shaft 9 and back as many times as it is necessary to effect the desired dyeing. This enclosure above the tub is constructed of movable ends 25 adapted to slide up and down in a guideway 26 suitably attached to the corner posts. These ends may be formed of a suitable frame, as sho-Wn at 25 in Figs. 2 and 3, which frame contains glass panes 21 such that an operator may look in the end of the device to ascertain the condition of the fabric. The movable ends 25 are held in a raised position by counterweights 28 attached thereto by means of cords 29. vThese counterweights 28 are adapted to hang inthe hollow corner posts. Below the movable end 25 is a movable skirt 3|, shown in cross-section in Fig. 4, which is adapted to be raised and lowered in the guideway 32A attached to the corner posts 24. Also across each end is a suitable brace 33 tending to maintain the corner posts in spaced and parallel relationship. The bottom of the skirts 3l may terminate in -a flange adapted to make contact with the tub 2 to prevent the escape of steam from between the ends of the enclosure and the tub. The sides of the enclosure are formed of a suitable sheet material 35'having cutout portions to fit around the

shafts

5 and 9. The sides extend from one Ycorner post to the other terminating in a .flange 36 forming one side of the guideway 32, thuseffecting a seal Vatthefour vertical'corners of the'enclosure.

" Alongthe vtop of both Vside members 35, as

amaca@ more fully shown in Fig. 5, is a bracket 31 adapted to support two series of

rollers

38 and 39. At the inner end of the shaft 4I that supports rollers 33 is a flexible tubing 42 adapted to prevent the escape of steam along the two upper horizontal edges of the enclosure.- Mounted for sliding movement on the

rollers

38 and 39 are a pair of

frames

43 and 44 which support

glass panes

45 and 46, respectively. Each

frame

43 and 44 is but slightly longer than half the length of the enclosure, the central ends of which terminate in flanges 41 and 48, respectively, such that when the panes are moved to enclose the top the flanges 41 and 48 make a seal preventing the escape of steam.

Suitable pipe lines may be connected with the tub 2 for furnishing thereto hot and cold water, etc., these being conventional have not been shown on the drawings. The tub 2 may also contain steam pipes or other means 49 for heating up or maintaining the bath in the tub 2 at an elevated temperature. Also, there may be provided above the tub 2 steam pipes or other means 5I for heating up or maintaining the atmosphere of the enclosure above the bath at a given temperature. The heating elements 5I are not always necessary as the temperature of the bath soon raises the small amount of atmosphere to substantially its own temperature. There is also provided means for lighting up the interior of the enclosure, such as marine lights 52 mounted in the side walls of the enclosure. To prevent condensate from preventing the operator from ascertaining the state of the fabric there is provided a manually operated or automatically operated wind shield wiper 53 at one or both ends of the enclosure.

The operation of the device may best be described with particular reference to Figs. 6 and '1, which, although somewhat diagrammatic, show the operation of the device. For loading the jig a roll of fabric 8 carried on a suitable shell is placed on the shaft 8 and the end of the fabric is brought around the shell contained on the shaft 9. rlhe shaft 9 is then rotated pulling the fabric from the roll 8 and Winding it on the shell on shaft 9. To accomplish this, however, the frame 25 containing the panes 21 and also the skirt 3| on that end of the machine is lowered, while the

tWo top sections

45 and 46 are moved to the right as seen in Fig. 6. After the fabric has been placed on the shaft 9 it is then threaded about spacer arm I8, guide roll l1 onto the shell supported by the shaft 5. The end of the enclosure at the left, as seen in Fig. 6, is then raised and the top 46 is moved to the left effecting a substantially sealed enclosure about the rolls of fabric which now may be run through the dye bath contained in the tub 2. As the space enclosed is relatively small the heat contained in the dye bath or supplied thereto is usually sufficient to maintain the enclosed space within a relatively few degrees of the dye bath. For instance, when the dye bath is maintained at or near 100 C. the atmosphere containedin the enclosure is around 92 C. For the purpose of unloading the jig the fabric is wound on the shell supported by shaft 9, the right end as seen in Fig. '1 is then lowered and the top section 45 is moved to the left effecting a whole open corner. The fabric is then threaded onto a shell slipped on the shaft I3. By means of the drive chain I6 the fabric is pulled from the enclosure and wound into a roll I3" upon the shell supported by the shaft I3. After Winding fabric one end of the shaft I3 may be released from its bearing"k by means of the hinge bearing top 54 which permits the Vsquare shaft I3 to be raised suf.-

ciently free of the bearing to slip the shell containing the fabric therefrom. Y

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is merely given by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y

1. A method of dyeing fabrics containing organic derivative of cellulose yarns, which comprises immersing the fabric in a heated bath containing a dyestul, withdrawing the fabric from said bath and maintaining the fabric at substantially the same temperature as the temperature of theheated dye bath while it is out of the bath until dyeing is substantially completed.

2. A method of dyeing fabrics containing cellulose acetate yarns, which comprises immersing the fabric in a heated bath containing ,a dyestuff, withdrawing the fabric from said bath and maintaining the fabric at substantially the same temperature as the temperature of the heated dye bath while it is out of the bath until dyeing is substantially completed.

3. A method of dyeing fabrics containing organic derivative of cellulose yarns, which comprises immersing the fabric in a heated bath containing a high temperature dyestu, withdrawing the fabric from said bath and maintaining the fabric at substantially the same temperature as the temperature of the heated dye bath while it is out of the 4bath until dyeing is substantially completed.

4. A method of dyeing fabrics containing cellulose acetateyarns, which comprises immersing the fab-ric in a heated bath containing a. high temperature dyestuff, withdrawing the fabric from said bath and maintaining the fabric at substantially the same temperature as the temperature of the heated dye bath while it is out of the bath until dyeing is substantially completed.

5. A method of dyeing fabrics containing organic derivative of cellulose yarns, which comprises immersing the fabric in a heated bath containing a dyestuif and withdrawing the fabric from said bath into an enclosed atmosphere maintained at substantially the same temperature as the temperature of the heated dye bath.

6. A method of dyeing fabrics containing cellulose acetate yarns, which comprises immersing the fabric in a heated bath containing a dyestuff and withdrawing the fabric from said bath into an enclosed atmosphere maintained at substantially the same temperature as the temperature of the heated dye bath.

7. A method of dyeing fabrics containing organic derivative of cellulose yarns, which comprises immersing the fabric in a heated bath containing a dyestuif and withdrawing the fabric from said bath and rolling up the same in an atmosphere maintained at substantially the same temperature as the temperature of the vheated dye bath While the ldyeing of the fabric is being completed.

8. A method of dyeing fabrics containing cellulose acetate yarns, which comprises immersing the fabric in a heated bath containing a dyestuff and withdrawing the fabric from said bath and rolling up the same in an atmosphere maintained at substantially the same temperature as the temperature of the heated `dye bath whilethe dyeing of 'the fabric is being completed.; Y

9. A method of dyeing fabrics containing o rganic derivative of cellulose yarns, which `comprises intermittently immersingj the fabricjin a heated Ybath containing a dyestuii and withdrawing the same from `said bath andinaintaining the temperature of the bath and the atmosphere surrounding the fabric while it is out of the bath at substantially the same temperature until ldyeing is substantially completed.

10. A method of dyeing fabrics containingrcellulose acetate yarns, which comprises intermittently immersing the fabric in a heated bath containingr a dyestuff and withdrawing the same from said bath and maintaining the temperature of the lbath and the atmosphere surrounding the fabric while it is out of the bath at substantially the same temperature until dyeing is substantially completed.

l1. A method of dyeing fabrics containing organic derivative .of cellulose yarns, which comprises intermittently immersing the fabric in a heated bath containing a high temperature dye- .stuff and withdrawing the same from said bath and maintaining the temperature of the bath and the atmosphere surrounding the fabric while it is out of the bath at substantially the same temperature until dyeing is substantially completed.

l2. A method of dyeing fabrics containing ce1- lulose acetate yarns, which comprises intermittently immersing the fabric in a heated bath containing a high temperature dyestuff and Withdrawing the same from said bath and maintaining the temperature of the bath and the atmosphere surrounding the fabric while it is out of the bath at substantially the same temperature until dyeing is substantially completed. y

t HERBERT PLATT. CYRIL `M. CROFI.