Immersion Dyeing

Definition and Overview

Immersion dyeing is a dyeing method in which the material to be dyed is immersed in dye liquor. The dye in the liquor is absorbed by the fibers, and heat, auxiliaries, time, and other conditions are controlled as needed to fix the color. It may be used for fabric, yarn, and loose wool.

It is generally used for batch dyeing processed in lots. Depending on the type and form of the fiber, machines and methods such as jet dyeing, jig dyeing, and winch dyeing are selected.

Features

Because immersion dyeing passes the entire fabric through the dye liquor, it is suitable for applications that express a single-color solid finish. However, the depth of color, luster, softness, crispness, and other texture qualities vary depending on the type of fiber, dye, pre-treatment, and post-processing, and are not determined by immersion dyeing alone.

If circulation of the dye liquor or the way the fabric is moved is insufficient, uneven dyeing, dark and light areas caused by fold creases, and color differences between the edges and center may occur. In mass production, it is important to check color differences from the sample and uniformity between rolls and within a roll.

Main Applications

It is widely used for dyeing solid woven fabrics and knits, and is used throughout the year for clothing such as shirts, blouses, cut-and-sew items, pants, skirts, jackets, and outerwear, depending on the material and fabric weight. Material that has been immersion dyed at the yarn stage can also be used for yarn dyed woven fabrics and yarn dyed knits.

Seasonality is determined not by immersion dyeing itself, but by the fabric material, thickness, construction, and finish. Even with the same immersion dyeing process, process control differs depending on the material, from lightweight cotton and rayon fabrics to heavyweight wool fabrics.

Selection and Handling Precautions

When selecting fabric, confirm the dye that suits the blend ratio and the reproducibility of the desired color. Since the difficulty of control differs for dark colors, vivid colors, and light colors, check the hue with lab dips or actual samples, and share the required washing, rubbing, and lightfastness levels as specifications.

Because immersion dyeing uses water and heat, width, length, and texture may change depending on the material. Before cutting and sewing, check shrinkage rate and skew, and perform washing and straightening if necessary. It is safer to confirm color matching with sewing thread, interlining, and accessories under the same lighting conditions.

The washing method for a product cannot be determined only by whether it was immersion dyed. Washing labels are set based on product test results that include the blend ratio, dye, post-processing, and accessories. Dark-colored items may require precautions such as washing separately.

• Check color differences between the sample and mass-production rolls, as well as lot differences.
• Check washing fastness, rubbing fastness, and lightfastness according to the application.
• Check shrinkage rate, skew, and grain direction before cutting.
• Also check for color transfer to white or light-colored accessories.

Differences from Similar Terms

Yarn dyed is a term that indicates the stage of dyeing, in which yarn is dyed before weaving or knitting. Piece dyed indicates the stage in which fabric is dyed after weaving or knitting. Immersion dyeing indicates a dyeing method in which the material is immersed in dye liquor, so it is used for both yarn dyed and piece dyed materials.

Printing is a process of applying patterns to the surface of fabric by screen printing, inkjet, or similar methods. In contrast, immersion dyeing is a method that mainly dyes the entire fabric or yarn. Continuous dyeing is also a method of processing fabric continuously, and is distinguished from immersion dyeing, which is often processed in lots.

Frequently Asked Questions