Effects of repeated home launderings and non-durable press on the colour properties of plain woven polyester fabric

Abstract

The colour values and colour differences occurred in dyed polyester fabrics after repeated home launderings and non-durable pressings (hot-pressing) have been assessed. Two disperse dyes with different chemical structures (azo and anthraquinone) were applied to the polyester fabric separately at different dyeing concentrations and the domestic ironing was simulated by using international hot-pressing standards. The K/S value, lightness (L*), chroma (C*) and colour differences (DE*) were measured for the repeated experiment cycles. It is observed that the K/S values slightly decrease and L* values gradually increase, indicating the loss of some dyes from the fibres and decreasing depth. C* values increase as the experiment cycles increase. Colour differences are found to depend on the chemical class and concentration of the disperse dyes used, and colour measurement time. Dyeing at low dye concentrations is affected more from the repeated experimental procedure.