Formulations having benzoate dye carriers for meta-aramid articles
Glycol ether benzoates, glycol benzoates and methyl benzoate facilitate the dyeing of the meta-aramid article, e.g., fibers, at or near neutral pH. The addition of an anionic surfactant, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, enhances the performance of the benzoates.
1. An aqueous dye formulation consisting of:
A. a cationic dye;
B. a glycol ether benzoate;
C. water;
D. an anionic surfactant; and
E. optionally, an additive selected from the group consisting of a salt, an ultraviolet light absorber, a pH adjuster, methoxytriglycol, and combinations thereof.
2. The dye formulation of claim 1 having a pH of 6-8.
3. The dye formulation of claim 1 in which the glycol ether benzoate is of the formula
R 1 —O(CH 2 CH(R 2 )) n —O—R 3
in which R 1 is a C 1-10 alkyl group, phenyl or benzyl, R 2 is either hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, —R 3 is C═C—C 6 H 5 from benzoic acid, and n=1-3.
4. The dye formulation of claim 3 in which the dye is present in an amount of 0.05 to 5 wt %, the glycol ether benzoate is present in an amount of 3 to 6 wt %, and the water is de-ionized.
5. The dye formulation of claim 4 in which the glycol ether benzoate is at least one of 1-methoxy-2-propylbenzoate, 2-propoxyethyl benzoate, 2-butoxyethyl benzoate, 2-(2-phenoxyethoxy)ethyl benzoate and 2-(2-phenoxy-1-methylethoxy)-1-methylethoxy benzoate.
6. The dye formulation of claim 5 in which the anionic surfactant is present in an amount of 1-4 wt %.
7. The dye formulation of claim 1 in which the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium decyl sulfate, and sodium tetradecyl sulfate.
8. The dye formulation of claim 1 in which the anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate.
9. The dye formulation of claim 1 in which the glycol ether benzoate is 1-methoxy-2-propylbenzoate.