Polyester dyeing with Carrier.

Textile Carrier.

A carrier is an organic chemical that has affinity to polyester and swells it. Chemicals such as Biphenyl, Orthophenylphenol, Benzyl benzoate, Benzyl benzoate and Butyl Phathalamide have been used as disperse dyes carriers. The use of  Carrier at 100°C increases the amount of dye absorbed and decrease staining on other fibers. Carrier normally have unpleasant odour  that require the dyebath to be enclosed and they may also be toxic.

Above swatches are Disperse dyed at 100°C, Exhaust

1.       Dyed without carrier 

2.       Dyed with Carrier of Company X.

3.       Dyed with carrier of Company Y.

What Carriers do?

Carrier helps in further penetration and resultantly better washing, rubbing and sublimation than with same dyeing depth without carrier at elevated temperature. Dyeing at high temperature without carrier is more economical than dyeing with carriers.

Experiment

Let’s do a test to confirm that Carriers can enhance fastness. We will dye two fabrics with same dye same concentration at elevated temperature of 130°C but, one with and other without carrier than we will do RC(Reduction Cleaning) and finally will apply test Sublimation test ISO 105 PO1 210°C.

Right one Without Carrier and left with carrier.

One can observe obvious improvement in sublimation fastness due to addition of career.

Why RC Needed

Another important aspect involved in carrier dyeing is good washing (Reduction clearance) and this is done for two reasons. Firstly, Carriers adversely effect the lightfastness if traces remains on fabric. Secondly wearer skin may be sensitive to carriers and cause allergic. For reduction clearance which helps in removal of carriers/unfix dye, hydrosulfite and caustic are utilized.