BLOG 4 - Fabric Dyes & Finishes

 This week's discussion focused on other fabrications, dyes and colorants, and fabric finishes. 

Once a fabric is made, it is time for the fabric to be colored or designed. This process requires immersion of the textile into dye liquor, an aqueous solution of dyestuff. Then, the manufacturer chooses which dye method they want to proceed with. This can include solution dyeing which is more environmentally friendly because it does not include waste or water treatment. Other dye methods include fiber dyeing, yarn dyeing, and piece dye. It is easy to get dye and pigments mixed up so it is important to understand that dye is a color-producing compound, that penetration in the fabric surface and chemically binds with the fiber, and it is used for coloring in the solution, yarn fabric, and finished textile stage. The pigment, however, is a color-producing agent, is held to the surface with a binding agent, and is used for imparting color in the fabric stage. 

While having a hue to a fabric is important to know, it can switch to a person's eye due to the effect of the light source, the quantity of light, changes in texture, soil accumulation, composition, and structural variables. This can also differ in the mixture of visible wavelengths they emit and be affected by indirect light reflected from walls, ceilings, and furnishings. To solve this issue, products should be color-matched under lighting conditions that mimic the space they will be placed in. 

The image to the left represents how much impact light can have on the color of an object depending on the way we look at it from the angle of a light source.

In the last chapter, it covered fabric finishes. According to the Dictionary of Fiber and Textile Technology, finishes are "all the processes through which fabric is passed after bleaching, dyeing, or printing in preparation for market and use.." Going off of the definition finishes on a product are based on how durable the product needs to be, the application method (thermal, chemical, or mechanical), and the purpose of the overall fabric. When looking at fabric finishes, it is important to know the responsibility of a converter. Converters use finishing agents and treatments to develop specific functional properties. Based on the treatments and finishes used on a fabric will dictate the correct placement for the fabric; whether that is in a healthcare setting, hospitality setting, or in residential.

ONE STEP FURTHER

Before being turned into clothing or other textile products, fabric is colored using a process called stock dyeing. This technique is used to give the fabric a consistent, brilliant coloring throughout, boosting its appeal and adaptability.

When stock dyeing, the fabric is submerged in a dye bath, which is often a sizable vat that contains the dye solution and has been heated to the ideal temperature. Due to the agitation and temperature control, the fabric absorbs the dye uniformly, resulting in consistent color penetration. Greater color precision is possible with this procedure, and the possibility of uneven dying is reduced. Because it eliminates the need for further dyeing procedures once the fabric is cut and sewed into final goods, stock dyeing is very helpful for textile makers. By doing this, you not only save time and resources but also guarantee that all textile products made from the dyed fabric will have the same hue.

Stock dyeing is also environmentally friendly because it normally employs water-based colors and can be adjusted to use the least amount of water and energy. It is a popular technology for producing textiles on a big scale due to its efficacy and sustainability, which also results in lower costs and less environmental impact. 

                        The image above is a diagram of the stock dyeing keir. 

EXTRA SOURCES

Dyeing Methods Used in Fabric Industry- 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3mMrDChzHw

Video on How we See Color- 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8_fZPHasdo