No abstract

A study has been conducted into the effect of heat setting on the dimensional stability and dyeing properties of spun and false‐twist texturised poly(lactic acid) yarn. It has been shown that acceptable levels of dimensional stability can be achieved after heat setting for 30–45 s at 130 °C, false‐twist texturised yarn exhibiting greater shrinkage than spun yarn. The exhaustion level and visual colour yield of a number of disperse dyes have been evaluated on each type of poly(lactic acid) yarn and shown to be essentially independent of the time of heat setting.

A study has been carried out to correlate the wet fastness properties of dyed knitted fabrics, derived from both poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(lactic acid) (Ingeo) fibres, with the thermal migration properties of the disperse dyes during heat treatment. The results indicate a greater amount of disperse dye at the surface of the Ingeo fibre fabric than the poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabric, after post heat‐setting using the conditions needed for fabric stabilisation, correlating well with its slightly lower wash fastness properties.

A study has been conducted to examine the effect of different preparation and dyeing processes on the physical strength of the Ingeo fibre component of an Ingeo fibre/cotton blend. An alkaline scouring process (for the cotton), followed by a two‐bath, two‐stage dyeing process in which the Ingeo fibre underwent a simulated dyeing with disperse dyes, followed by the cotton being dyed with reactive dyes, caused minimal deterioration to the strength of the Ingeo fibre. However, it is considered that problems might arise if the Ingeo fibre was subjected to prolonged dyeing times, particularly at neutral or alkaline pH, e.g. if an excessive number of shading additions needed to be carried out.

A study has been conducted to examine the effect of a vigorous alkaline scour–bleaching preparation, followed by high temperature dyeing, reduction clearing and a reactive dyeing process on the physical strength of the Ingeo fibre component of an Ingeo fibre/cotton blend. The results indicate that the physical strength will be retained at a technically‐ and commercially‐acceptable level provided that prolonged high temperature processing times are not employed.