Differentially vat dyed yarns and method of making the same

Abstract

Yarns are described herein which, in some embodiments, comprise plies or single strands dyed with at least one vat dyestuff yielding a tweed or heathered appearance. In one aspect, a yarn comprises a first ply and a second ply each dyed with at least one vat dyestuff, wherein a difference in color depth (DL*) between the dyed first single strand and the dyed second single strand has an absolute value of at least 2 when the vat dyestuff is in an oxidized state. As described further herein, the first ply and the second ply are dyed in the same dyebath. In another aspect, a yarn comprises a first ply and a second ply each dyed with at least one vat dyestuff, wherein a reflectance ration between the second ply and the first ply ranges from 0.05 to 0.95.

1 . A yarn comprising:
 a first single strand and a second single strand each dyed with at least one vat dyestuff, wherein a difference in color depth (DL*) between the dyed first single strand and the dyed second single strand has an absolute value of at least 2 when the vat dyestuff is in an oxidized state.   
     
     
         2 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the first single strand and the second single strand are dyed with the same vat dyestuff. 
     
     
         3 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the first single strand and second single strand are formed of polyamides. 
     
     
         4 . The yarn of  claim 3 , wherein the polyamides of the first single strand and the second single strand are different. 
     
     
         5 . The yarn of  claim 4 , wherein the polyamide of the first single strand has lower crystallinity than the polyamide of the second single strand. 
     
     
         6 . The yarn of  claim 4 , wherein the first single strand is formed of nylon 6, and the second single strand is formed of nylon 6,6. 
     
     
         7 . The yarn of  claim 4 , wherein the polyamide of the first single strand has a differing number of amine end groups relative to the polyamide of the second single strand. 
     
     
         8 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the first single strand and the second single strand have differing sulfur contents. 
     
     
         9 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the first single strand and the second single strand exhibit a difference in wetting speed of the vat dyestuff. 
     
     
         10 . The yarn of  claim 9 , wherein the first single strand or the second single strand includes a wax finish. 
     
     
         11 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the first single strand and the second single strand have differing TiO 2  contents. 
     
     
         12 . A textile composition comprising the yarn of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The textile composition of  claim 12 , wherein the textile composition is a floor covering. 
     
     
         14 . The textile composition of  claim 13 , wherein the floor covering is carpet. 
     
     
         15 . A method of dyeing a yarn comprising:
 providing a yarn comprising a first single strand and a second single strand;   contacting the yarn with a dyeing composition comprising at least one vat dyestuff in reduced form; and   oxidizing the vat dyestuff applied to the yarn, wherein the dyed first strand exhibits a darker color than the dyed second strand.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a difference in color depth (DL*) between the dyed first single strand and the dyed second single strand has an absolute value of at least 2 when the vat dyestuff is in the oxidized state. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first single strand and the second single strand are dyed with the same vat dyestuff. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first single strand and second single strand are formed of polyamides. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the polyamides of the first single strand and the second single strand are different. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the polyamide of the first single strand has lower crystallinity than the polyamide of the second single strand. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first single strand is formed of nylon 6, and the second single strand is formed of nylon 6,6. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the polyamide of the first single strand has a differing number of amine end groups relative to the polyamide of the second single strand. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first single strand and the second single strand have differing sulfur contents. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first single strand and the second single strand exhibit a difference in wetting speed of the vat dyestuff. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first single strand or the second single strand includes a wax finish. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first single strand and the second single strand have differing TiO 2  contents. 
     
     
         27 . A yarn comprising:
 a first ply and a second ply each dyed with at least one vat dyestuff, wherein at least one of the first ply and the second ply is wax-finished   
     
     
         28 . The yarn of  claim 27 , wherein the first ply and the second ply are twisted around one another to produce a barberpole construction. 
     
     
         29 . The yarn of  claim 27 , wherein the first ply and the second ply are dyed with the same vat dyestuff.