Compositions for spray dyeing cellulosic fabrics

Abstract

Compositions are provided for spray dyeing of a cellulosic, such as cotton, fabric or garment. The compositions include a reactive dye, a wetter, an alkali, and water. The present compositions are made by first mixing the reactive dye, the wetter, and the water to form a solution, and thereafter adding the alkali to the solution.

1 . A method of making and applying a composition for spray application onto surfaces of a cotton fabric, comprising:
 mixing together a wetter, a reactive dye, an alkali, and water in an in-line sleeve having a mixer therein to form a composition;   moving the composition from the in-line sleeve to a spray head for application onto the fabric within 30 minutes of forming the composition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mixer is a corkscrew configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein application onto the fabric comprises spraying two sides of the fabric between 5 and 20 seconds. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wetter, the reactive dye, and the alkali are anionic or non-ionic. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wetter is selected from the group consisting of a blend of one or more surfactants comprising sulfuric acid disodium salt, and phosphoric acid trisodium salt, and a surfactant comprising sodium dioctyle sulfosuccinate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the wetter comprises an amount between 5 g/l and 40 g/l. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reactive dye is an azo metal complex or dioxazine. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the reactive dye comprises an amount between 10 g/l and 80 g/l. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alkali is selected from the group consisting of a combination of soda ash, potassium carbonate and phosphate, and a combination of sodium silicate and a caustic. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the alkali comprises between 3 g/l and 20 g/l. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the alkali has a pH between 10.0 and 11.0. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a chelator, a dye leveling agent, a defoamer, an anti-reducing agent are mixed into the composition.