Pigment Dyeing

Wash-Down Colorant

What is Pigment?
Not a true dye Insoluble Mechanically bound to fiber by resins (binder): Adhesion & Unstable
Commonly applied in garment form for more effective color appearance

PIGMENT

PIGMENT

PIGMENT

PIGMENT

PIGMENT

PIGMENT

PIGMENT

PIGMENT

PIGMENT

PIGMENT

RESIN/BINDER FABRIC/GARMENT

bound on the surface

What is Dye?
Substances which add colors to textiles by absorption into fibers: Stable & good
penetration into fabric

Soluble Types of Dyestuff: Acid, Direct, Reactive ,

Sulfur, etc.

DYE

DYE

DYE

DYE

DYE

DYE

DYE

DYE

DYE

DYE FABRIC FABRIC

absorbed into the fiber

Pigment Dyeing Process

SCOURING
Pre-treatment using scouring agent prior to dyeing process to remove impurities present in fabric (60C for 10min)

CATIONIZATION
Using Cationic Reagent , make the fiber a permanently positive (cationic) charge to increase dye affinity (60C for 25min)

DYEING
Dye with Pigment (85C for 25min)

FIXATION
Add Binder for adhesion (40C for 15min)

ABRASION
Running thru Enzyme Wash for Wash Down effect if desired

Pigment Dyed

Properties of Pigment Dye

PROS
Unique color effect
Vintage worn-out effect after Enzyme Wash Apparent Hi-Lo effect Since pigment is a colorant being adhered on the surface regardless the fiber composition, labels and surface graphics would be colored as well as body fabric.

Excellent C/F to Chlorine

No reaction to bleach agent

CONS
Stiff hand Poor Colorfastness to Crocking
Dry: Class 2.0 3.0 Wet: Class 1.0 1.5

Fair colorfastness to Laundering Difficult to control shades

Considerations
Fabric
For best effect, semi-bleached fabric (pre-dye staged fabric which bleached in Hydrogen Peroxide) must be used. Shrinkage must be controlled in fabric form, since garment dyeing is done in high temperature.

Wide lot shade

Since using smaller size dyeing machine that fabric dyeing, wider lot shades would happen. Enzyme wash would create another wider lot shade due to each washing cycle gives slight different result Thus, wider shade tolerance should be given.

Toxicity

Some of generic pigments contain Azo Dye, which is a restriction substance banned in EU. US via CPSC is also under process regulating Azo Dye. Only Dystar manufactures the certified Azo-Free Pigments but high in cost ($5.00/kg if using Dystar Imperon Pigment) using generic pigment : $3.50/kg (if GW is 180g, upcharge would be $0.60/pc)

THANK YOU.