Economy and Ecology in Dyeing-Cold Pad batch Dyeing Method for Cotton Knitted Fabric

Abstract

Conservation of resources is not the exception in today's textile wet processing operations- it is the rule. Lower water, energy, time, chemical and labour consumption, while providing quality textile products, is the goal of all manufacturers who wish to continue in the business. Dyeing machinery and processes; especially designed to provide quality dyeing with savings in resources, are coming on stream. But still a lot of work is required to conserve the resources in wet processing especially in dyeing of knitted cotton fabric since most of the processes that are carried out recently use high amount of water, energy and chemicals. The most popular method of dyeing cotton knitted fabrics is exhaust method which requires high volume of water, high energy and chemicals. This investigation aims at studying the dyeing of cotton knitted fabric by cold pad batch process and evaluates the feasibility of the process by comparing with the conventionally used exhaust method usually carried out at high material to liquor ratio in a soft-flow dyeing machine. The study has shown the possibilities of reducing the consumption of water, electrical and thermal energy and chemicals thereby offering cost advantage for a comparable colour value and physical properties. Besides, this process offers the reduction on the wastewater load which is the subsequent result of the overall conservation of the resources.