Investigation into dyeing acceleration efficiency of ultrasound energy

The acceleration efficiency of ultrasound was investigated by different application of ultrasound during dyeing process in an ultrasound cleaner. Actual energy dissipated into the dyeing bath was measured to ensure the formation of ultrasound cavatiation. The experimental findings showed ultrasound pretreatment could improve slightly the dye exhaustion and fixation, but failed to improve fastness of dyed fabrics. Obvious enhancement effects on dye exhaustion and fixation were achieved in continuous and intermittent ultrasound dyeing processes, and slight improvement effects on some fastness properties of fabrics dyed in ultrasound fields were observed. A comparison of the efficiencies in two ultrasound dyeing processes revealed the dyeing process in intermittent ultrasound field would benefit to making full use of ultrasound energy. (C) 2010 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.