Dyed Olefin Yarns And Textile Fabrics Using Such Yarns

Abstract

A novel olefin fiber or yarn, textile fabric or film is manufactured using olefin that contains variable amounts of a unique dyeable concentrate additive including relevant amounts of amorphous nylon and nylon 6 and/or nylon 66. Fabrics, fibers, yarns and films made according this invention can be processed using conventional nylon dyeing systems carried out at atmospheric pressure. The dyeable concentrate additive can be easily dosed into a conventional fiber or film extruder or can be formed into blended pellets which can be extruded into olefin fiber or film dyeable at atmospheric pressures. Multiple tones of a color can be dyed in a single dye bath by using different amounts of dyeable concentrate in different yarns or fibers. This invention is of particular value in the apparel, carpet, home furnishings and soft signage industries. Significant energy savings may be realized in carrying out the dyeing processes at atmospheric pressures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of dyeing olefin fibers, yarns, fabrics and films which comprises, blending the olefin with a master batch comprised of amorphous nylon, olefin modified with maleic anhydride, and nylon 6 and/or nylon 6,6, and dyeing the blended olefin at atmospheric pressures using a nylon dyeing system. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the master batch comprises as its components
 from 10% to 50% amorphous nylon, 
 from 80% to 40% nylon 6 and/or nylon 6,6, and 
 8-12%% olefin modified with maleic anhydride. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the olefin is polypropylene having a melt flow index of from 8 to 35. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the components of the master batch are extruded to form pellets of the master batch material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the components of the master batch are dosed into an extruder together with the olefin and extruded as a blended material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the blended material is extruded in the form of pellets. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the blended material is extruded through nozzles to form fibers or film. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the master batch comprises from 2% to 10% of the blend, and the olefin comprises from 98% to 90% of the blend. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the olefin is polypropylene having a melt flow index of from 8 to 35. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein
 the amorphous nylon is present in the blend in an amount not greater than 50%, and 
 8-12% of the blend comprises olefin modified with maleic anhydride. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein
 the olefin modified with maleic anhydride comprises polypropylene or low density polyethylene.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the nylon 6 together with nylon 6,6 is present in the blend in an amount not greater than 80%. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the olefin is polypropylene. 
     
     
         14 . A fiber, yarn, fabric or film dyed using the method of  claim 1 .