C:\Website\Immersion Dyeing Polyester.htm

PO Box 14 • Somerset, MA 02726
orders 1-800-2-BUY-DYE
technical support 508-676-3838
fax 508-676-3980
e-mail • promail@prochemical.com
www.prochemical.com

Immersion Dyeing Polyester
using PROsperse Disperse Dyes

Please read the directions carefully before starting.

All dyeing should be done in a stainless steel or enamel container. Never use aluminum pots. Use Pyrex or stainless steel measuring utensils and a large wooden dowel for stirring the boiling dye bath. PROVIDE GOOD VENTILATION DURING THE ENTIRE DYE CYCLE! Always do test samples before working on a large project. For additional information, visit our web site at www.prochemical.com.

Wear rubber gloves, apron or old clothes.

Utensils used for dyeing should never be used for food preparation.

Supplies
PROsperse Disperse Dye
PRO Dye Carrier NSC
Metaphos (optional, but use if you have hard water)
Citric Acid or White Distilled White Vinegar
Synthrapol
PRO Dye Activator or Soda Ash

Procedure
1. Scour the fabric by machine washing in HOT 140^oF (60^oC) water, or by hand in a pot on the stove with ½ tsp (2 gm) PRO Dye Activator or Soda Ash and ½ tsp (2.5 ml) Synthrapol per pound of fabric (454 gm, or 3 to 4 yards of muslin weight fabric). Rinse thoroughly. This step does not add the dye fixative to the fabric; it prepares your fabric for dyeing by removing any dirt, oil or sizing.

Immersion Dyeing for 1 pound (454 gm) of 100% Polyester

	Pale	Medium	Dark	Black
Dye Powder	½ tsp (1.3 gm)	1½ tsp (3.8 gm)	3 tsp (7.5 gm)	6 tsp (15 gm)

2. Dissolve the dye. Thoroughly dissolve the desired amount of dye powder, from the chart above, in 1 cup (250 ml) of boiling water. Let mixture cool to room temperature and stir well again. Before adding to dye bath, strain it through two layers of old nylon stockings.

3. Dilute the Dye Carrier NSC by mixing 2 Tbl (30 ml) of carrier into 1 cup (250 ml) of boiling water.

4. Prepare the dye bath below in a non reactive, stainless steel or enamel pot. Add ingredients in the order listed below.

To 2½ gallons (10 liters) of 120^oF (49^oC) water add:

½ tsp (2.5 ml) Synthrapol
1 tsp (5 ml) Citric Acid or 11 tsp (55 ml) white distilled vinegar
diluted Dye Carrier NSC from Step 3
½ tsp (3.5 gm) Metaphos (optional, but use if you have hard water)
dissolved and strained PROsperse Disperse Dye

Stir well after adding each ingredient.

5. Stir well and add the scoured damp fabric.

6. Bring the dye bath rapidly to a boil, while stirring constantly. Simmer 30 minutes for pale shades and up to 45 minutes for black, stirring intermittently and gently to prevent the fabric from creasing or distorting. While dye bath is going, bring another pot of water to a minimum temperature of 180^oF (82^oC).

7. Rinse the fabric. Remove the fabric from the dye pot and immediately plunge it into the pot of 180^oF (82^oC) water. Water below this temperature leaves residual Dye Carrier NSC crystals and an unpleasant odor in the fabric which is VERY difficult to remove.

8. Wash the fabric. Discard the dye bath down the drain and refill the pot with 160^oF (71^oC) water. Add ½ tsp (2.5 ml) Synthrapol. Transfer fabric from the first rinse pot to this wash pot. Stir intermittently for 5 to 10 minutes.

9. Rinse in hot water and extract excess water. Smell the fabric. If you detect the odor of the carrier in the fabric, repeat steps 7 and 8. If you don’t detect the odor, finish by drying the fabric.

The Dye Carrier NSC is essential to achieve dark shades but is optional to use in the dye bath for pale to medium shades. Keep in mind that you’ll get a darker color dyeing a pale to medium shade if you include Dye Carrier NSC in the dye bath.