Silicone nanomicelle dyeing using the nanoemulsion containing highly dispersed dyes for polyester fabrics

Silicone nanomicelle dyeing is a novel dyeing technique of saving water and energy. The organic silicone nanomicelles containing highly dispersed dyes were prepared. Organic silicone oil as a polymer organic phase was successfully used as nanoemulsion by solvent evaporation technique. Three nanomicelles containing three dyes are all homogeneous liquid nanospheres with regular shape and size 40-60 nm, respectively. The dyes were highly dispersed in the nanoemulsion in molecules. Dyeing for PET fabrics can be carried out in low liquor ratio. The dye was slowly released from the nanomicelle in the dyeing process and improved the leveling property of the disperse dyes. The color yields of the polyester fabrics dyed by the nanomicelle dyeing were higher than those of the samples dyed by the traditional dyeing. During the dyeing process, the organic silicon was also as softening agent, which adsorbed on the surface of the fabric to provide a good soft handle. This technique combined dyeing and finishing processes together. The nanomicelle dyeing improved the dyeing properties of polyester fabrics and to save time and reduce the water consumption. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.