Abstract
Polyester fabrics were padded with four vat dye baths containing sodium hydrosulfite(Na2S2O4) and NaOH, or vat dyes alone. After drying, the fabrics were processed by hot air at 210°C for 5 min, super heat steam (HTS) at 180°C for 10 min, and high pressure steam (HPS) at 130°C for 10min, respectively, and subsequently soaped. The K⁄S values and L*C*h color parameters were measured. The fabrics after the processings by dry heat, HT and HP steamings showed considerably high color depth not only for the dye alone but also for the Na2S2O4 and NaOH. Therefore, it seems that quinone, leuco form and vat acid structures of the vat dye are all effective for coloration of polyester fabric by dry heat, HTS, and HPS processings after padding. Even so, it is a matter of course to select the processing conditions for each dye.
