Abstract
Dyeing of synthetic fibers by the heat transfer process of disperse dye vapors is performed by contacting white receptor polyester or polyamide fabric with other dyed polyester fabrics (donor) under the influence of heat. The dye vapours flowing away will diffuse across the very slight air gap enclosed between the inner donor and receptor surfaces under the applied pressure. It is found that the dye uptake by the receptor fabric is dependent on the original dye content of the donor fabric, transfer temperature and dwell time. The released dye from the donor fabric under the influence of heating is found to be dependent on the original dye content of the donor fabric as well as the transfer temperature. The efficiency of the dye transfer is also attributed to the original shading of the donor fabric. Evaluation of the imparted colors on the receptor fabric (polyester, polyamide) obtained by heat contact with the same donor fabric showed visually the same colour level up to the 13th run. Thermodynamic interpretation of the standard affinity (Ξ__u__^0^) and heat of dyeing (Ξ__H__^0^) as well as the partition coefficient of the dye show that the dyeing process has an exothermic character. The rate controlling step in this dyeing process is found to be dependent on the diffusion of the dye vapors into the fiber phase.