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Low-Temperature Dyeing of Chemically Modified PET/Spandex Blends: A Sustainable Approach for Enhanced Dyeability and
Md Morshedur Rahman1, Nazrul Hsan2, Ingi Hong1
1Advanced Materials Program, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
Chemically modified poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-polyethylene glycol) (PCP) blended with spandex offers improved dyeability and color fastness. This energy-efficient alternative allows effective dyeing at lower temperatures, addressing challenges in sportswear textiles.
Area of Science:
- Textile Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/spandex blends are common in apparel but face dyeing challenges.
- High temperatures and poor color fastness due to spandex staining limit conventional PET/spandex dyeing.
- Developing improved dyeing methods for PET/spandex blends is crucial for the textile industry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dyeing behavior of chemically modified poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-polyethylene glycol) (PCP) blended with spandex.
- To compare the dyeability and color fastness of PCP/spandex blends with conventional PET/spandex blends.
- To identify optimal dyeing conditions for PCP/spandex blends for energy efficiency and performance.
Main Methods:
- Comparative dyeing studies of PCP/spandex and PET/spandex blends.
- Evaluation of dyebath exhaustion and color strength at various temperatures.
- Assessment of color fastness and spandex staining under different dyeing conditions.
Main Results:
- PCP/spandex blends showed significantly higher dyebath exhaustion and color strength compared to PET/spandex blends.
- Optimal dyeing conditions for PCP/spandex were 110 °C for 60 min, balancing dye uptake and reduced spandex staining.
- Improved color fastness was observed for PCP/spandex at lower temperatures (110-120 °C) due to minimized spandex staining.
Conclusions:
- PCP/spandex blends present a viable, energy-efficient alternative to conventional PET/spandex fabrics.
- Lower temperature dyeing is achievable with PCP/spandex blends, enhancing sustainability.
- The reduced spandex staining in PCP blends leads to superior color fastness in elastic fiber blends.
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