Dyeing of Wool Fibres

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for dyeing fibre materials composed of wool wherein an alkoxylated and quaternized fatty acid amine, preferably a quaternized, ethoxylated oleylamine, is used as a levelling agent. The present compound leads to very uniform dyeings and is very effective in low concentrations.

1 . A process for dyeing a fiber material composed of wool, comprising the step of contacting the fiber material with at least one compound of formula (I) 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein
 R is singly or doubly unsaturated alkenyl of 12 to 24 carbon atoms, 
 X −  is an anion, and 
 (n+m) has an average value in the range from 14 to 29. 
 
     
   
   
       2 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein
 R is a radical derived from oleic acid, linoleic acid or linolenic acid,   X −  is chloride, bromide, iodide, methosulphate, sulphate, phosphate or acetate, and   (n+m) has an average value in the range from 17 to 19.   
   
   
       3 . A process according to  claim 1 ,
 R is a radical derived from oleic acid.   X −  is chloride, and   (n+m) has an average value in the range from 17 to 19.   
   
   
       4 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is in aqueous solution in the range from 15% to 35% by weight. 
   
   
       5 . A process according to  claim 4 , wherein the concentration of the compound of Formula I is in the aqueous solution is in the range from 25% to 35% by weight and wherein the aqueous solution further comprises 0.1% to 5% by weight of at least one foam-suppressing substance. 
   
   
       6 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the contacting step is at a pH in the range from 2 to 9. 
   
   
       7 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquor ratio of the contacting step is in the range from 2:1 to 80:1 in the case of a batch dyeing and in the range from 5:1 to 500:1 in the case of a continuous dyeing. 
   
   
       8 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquor ratio of the contacting step is in the range from 5:1 to 30:1 in the case of a batch dyeing and in the range from 20:1 to 300:1 in the case of a continuous dyeing. 
   
   
       9 . A fiber material dyed by the process according to  claim 1 .