Method of dyeing high performance fabrics

Abstract

There is provided a process of dyeing yarn or cloth comprising fibres, comprising dyeing at least part of the fibres with at least two types of dyestuff that dye the same fibres substantially the same colour. One of the types of dyestuff chemically bonds with or is at least partially incorporated into the fibre structure and the other type of dyestuff does not chemically bond with or become at least partially incorporated into the fibre structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process of dyeing yarn or cloth comprising fibres, comprising dyeing at least part of the fibres with at least two types of dyestuff; wherein the two types of dyestuff dye the same fibres substantially the same colour; and that one of the types of dyestuff chemically bonds with or is at least partially incorporated into the fibre structure and the other type of dyestuff does not chemically bond with or become at least partially incorporated into the fibre structure. 
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein part of the fibres are first dyed with one of the dyestuff types and then subsequently dyed with the other type of dyestuff. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the chemically or at least partially incorporated dyestuff type has a lower light fastness and a greater wash fastness than the other dyestuff type. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein part of the fibres are first dyed with one of the dyestuff types and then subsequently dyed with the other type of dyestuff. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibres are either poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide) fibres or poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide). 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the types of dyestuff is a high visibility dyestuff. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the types of dyestuff is a fluorescent dyestuff. 
     
     
         8 . A process of dyeing cloth, comprising the steps of:
 providing cloth comprising poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide) or poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide) fibres; and   dyeing the poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide) fibres or poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide) with two types of dyestuff of substantially the same colour.   
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the types of dyestuff is pigment and the other type of dyestuff is dye. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 9  comprising the steps of:
 i) dyeing the yarn or cloth with a dye; and subsequently 
 ii) dyeing the yarn or cloth with a pigment by applying a blend of resin and pigment to the yarn or cloth and curing the resin. 
 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein one of the types of dyestuff is pigment and the other type of dyestuff is dye. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 11  comprising the steps of:
 i) dyeing the yarn or cloth with a dye; and subsequently 
 ii) dyeing the yarn or cloth with a pigment by applying a blend of resin and pigment to the yarn or cloth and curing the resin. 
 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 9 , wherein after curing the yarn or cloth comprises less than 20 wt % resin (based on total weight of dyed cloth). 
     
     
         14 . A yarn or cloth comprising fibres, at least part of the fibres dyed with two types of dyestuff, wherein the two types of dyestuff dye the fibres substantially the same colour; and wherein one of the types of dyestuff is chemically bonded with or is at least partially incorporated into the fibre structure and the other type of dyestuff is not chemically bonded with or incorporated into the fibre structure. 
     
     
         15 . The yarn or cloth according to  claim 14 , wherein the fibres are aramid fibres. 
     
     
         16 . The yarn or cloth according to  claim 14 , wherein the fibres are at least one of poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide) fibres or poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide) fibres. 
     
     
         17 . The yarn or cloth according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the types of dyestuff is a high visibility dyestuff. 
     
     
         18 . The yarn or cloth according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the types of dyestuff is a fluorescent dyestuff. 
     
     
         19 . The yarn or cloth according to  claim 14 , wherein one of the types of dyestuff is pigment and the other type of dyestuff is dye. 
     
     
         20 . The yarn or cloth according to  claim 19 , wherein the pigment is fixed to the yarn or cloth with resin, and the yarn or cloth comprises less than 20 wt % resin, based on the total weight of the dyed yarn or cloth. 
     
     
         21 . The garment comprising yarn or cloth according to  claim 14 .