Common Causes of Dyeing Defects

Common Causes of Dyeing Defects:

t is important that the general precautions should be followed while dyeing
a textile material. t is always helpful to keep a record of all the conditions
(including temperature, time, conc of color, chemicals, material to liquor ratio) in
order to get an even shade in each batch. n general the following are the
common causes of dyeing defects across all the categories of dyes:

1. The materiaI is not weII prepared for dyeing and printing

a. Material having dead fibres or other defective fibres
b. Left over of Chemicals after bleaching etc.
c. Material not properly desized
d. Material not properly mercerised.
e. Absorbancy of the fabric not proper
f. Sticking of insoluble material on the fibres
g. mpurities are not removed properly
h. Uneven heat treatment.

[Link] QuaIity not Proper

a. More Hardness of water
b. Water has metal ions such as iron.
c. pH of water not proper
d. Water having more chlorine

3. Due to Shortcomings in making Dyeing SoIution

a. mproper weight ratio of colors, material and chemicals.
b. mproper material to water ratio
3. mproper filtering of concentrated colors.

4. Due to Shortcomings in the dye machinery

a. Coming out of Dye liquor during dyeing
b. Defective instruments controlling temperature, pressure speed etc.





Defects in Dyeing with Reactive Dyes
Defect: CoIors are not fast to washing, Abrasion;Staining in the fabric when transporting from
pIace to the other, water marks on the fabric
Remedy : Wash the fabric with soap and soda ash at right temperature. Adding sequestering agent
will yield good results. Treating with Ammonia will also give good results.
Defects in the fabric due to Printing- Need to take out fuII coIor
Remedy: Treat the dyed fabric with Sodium Hydrosuphite with 5-10 gm Sodium Hydrosulphite at 75
deg C for 30-45 minutes. Add 5-7 gms Caustic Soda for even removal of colors. The color becomes
light yellow or brown after removal. Wash it thoroughly with soap.
The color can also be removed by solution of Sodium Hypochlorite. Treat the fabric with a sodium
hypochlorite solution ( 3-5 gms Chlorine) for 20-30 minutes. Keep the pH between 9-10. The fabric is
treated with Acetic acid after removal of color to remove chlorine and to neutralise the fabric.
The fabric can be redyed after removal of color
Defect: BIeeding in coIors during washing, abrasion
Remedy: Boil the fabric with caustic, Treat the fabric with Hydrogen Peroxide ( 5-10 gpl, 60-70 deg C)
to make the color fast.
Defect: The fabric has been dyed in darker shade, uneven dyeing
Remedy: To take out color from the fabric treat it with caustic for 45-60 min at 70 deg C. Thereafter
treat the fabric with 10-20 gpl Acetic Acid for 40-60 min at 80-85 deg C.
Defect: Uneven dyeing, marks of water, marks of coIors
Remedy: Wash the fabric in soap and redye in a darker shade
Defect : The fabric has become stiff and rough after dyeing
Remedy: Finish after adding right softner
Defect: CoIor staining of fabric, uneven dyeing
Remedy: Redye the fabric in darker shade.
Defect: Color staining in fabrics of darker shade, uneven undyeing
Remedy: Dye the fabric in Sulphur black
Caution: PIease treat a smaII Iength fabric to check the effectiveness and any harmfuI effects
before commencing a fuII treatment.

Listing Defect in Vat Dyeing and the Precautions to Prevent the Defect
Listing is the variation in color of centre of the fabric with the selvedge. Some of the reasons for this
defect are:
1. mproper batching.
2. Non Uniformity in the selvedge
3. Redyeing of the fabric
4. Foam on the two sides of the jigger.
5. Slippage of the fabric from the roller during dyeing.
6. Shortcomings in the machine such as malfunctioning of guide roll, expander roller or improper
squeezing.
7. mproper filteration of the colors, improper circlation of the liquor during dyeing. Difference in
temperature of liquor in the centre and at the ends.
8. Mixing of colors which are not properly compatible.
9. mproper singeing
The remedies are:
1. There should not be any mechanical fault in the machine.
2. Take proper care during dyeing, like filter the color solution before using, ensure that all the
controlling instrument ( temperature, time) work properly. Circulate the liquor continuously during
dyeing.
3. f some shade is not coming out proper, dye with a slighly heavy shade without taking out the
earlier color.
4. Join the fabrics of the same width while making a lot.

Defects in Sulphur Dyeing

1. Tendering
Tendering in the fabric takes place because sulphur is converted into sulphuric acid after oxidation
which is harmful for the cellulosic fibers. This defect can occur on account of not proper washing of
the fabric after dyeing which results in retaining of sulphuric acid on the cloth.
2. Uneven Dyeing and Oxidation Marks
This may occur due to:
a. Lower strength of sodium sulphide
b. Using improper amount of sodium sulphide.
c. Sodium sulphide does not wash off fully after washing.
d. Variation in temperature.
e. f colors are not dissolved properly, or colors are not of good quality
f. f the chemical used for oxidation is not of good quality
g. Fabrics are not worked upon properly at the time of dyeing.
3. Bronziness
This defect normally occurs in heavy shades. Given below are the reasons:
1. More time gap between dyeing and washing
2. Using more of less strength sodium sulphide
3. Using more salt.
4. Oxidiser doesn't get washed off properly during washing
5. Sodium sulphide doesn't get washed off properly during washing.
6. More presence of iron and copper ions in water.
4. Poor colorfastness to rubbing
t depends upon:
a. type of color
b. Lower strength of sodium sulphide
c. Poor absorbency of the fabric
d. Fabric is not washed properly
e. The quality of soap used for washing is not proper
f. Dyeing bath made of iron instead of steel
g. Frequent addition of colors and chemicals
h. Using Cationic finishing agent in finishing also lowers the colorfastness to rubbing
i. mproper color solution, mproper material to liquor ratio etc.
5. Roughness in Fabric
1. Using more amount of sodium sulphide that doesn't get washed off during washing.
2. Heavier shade
3. mproper washing
4. Not using anionic softening agent in finishing
5. Not using wetting agent.
CoIorfastness ProbIems in Vat Dyeing- Reasons and Remedies
Causes of Poor CoIorfastness in Vat Dyeing
Frequent addition of colors in the dye bath to match the shade. t disturbs the equlibrium between
colors and chemicals.
- mproper oxidation
- mproper washing
- Some peculiar colors such as blue and brown also leads to this defect.
- Hardness in the water used
- Mixing of incompatible colors
- Usage of large quantities of reducing agent and alkali
- mproper temperature
- mproper wringing of the cloth
- Faults in the machine
- Not using essential chemicals such as dispersing agent or leveling agents.
- Dyeing in a finished cloth ( Resin or Silicon Finish)
- mproper preparation of the cloth or thread for dyeing ( Like not removing impurities or size)
How to improve coIorfastness in Vat Dyeing
1. Dont frequently add colors during dyeing
2. Ensure proper reduction clearance
3. Ensure proper oxidation
4. Choose right colors and chemicals
5. Control Temperarue
6. Use soft water
7. Add Dispersing or levelling agent as per need
8. Dont redye finished cloths
9. Ensure proper washing after dyeing.
10. Treat the material with small amount of Ammonia and Sodium Hydrosulphite
11. Treat the cloth with large amount of reducing agent and alkali. This method can be resorted to if
there is some bleeding in the colors.