Waterless dyeing of zipper tape using pilot-scale horizontal supercritical carbon dioxide equipment and its green and efficient production

Abstract

In this study, pilot-scale horizontal equipment for zipper tape dyeing in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) was designed and successfully constructed. Two horizontal dyeing autoclaves arranged side by side and a color-matching kettle to accelerate the dye dissolution were the two most appealing characteristics of this equipment. The products dyed under the conditions of a temperature of (90 ± 2) °C, pressure of (23 ± 1) MPa, and time of 50 min, presented an excellent color fastness of staining, drying, and wetting, which were all rated at grades of 4–5. The K/S value of the products dyed in SC-CO2 was 6.38, while a value of 5.25 was found in water, even the amount of dyes in the SC-CO2 was lower. The further commercialization of waterless dyeing from pilot-scale studies would have great practical and strategic significance.