Cationic dyeable fibres are fre-quently used in modern fibreblends, especially when a combi-nation of brilliant shades and topfastness properties is required.However, dyeing multifunctionalfabrics is very demanding. Theincreasing variety of fibre blendsmeans dyers need a wide rangeof carefully matched dyes as wellas extensive knowledge of theproperties of fibres and how todye them. DyStar’s restructuredAstrazon® range makes it themarket leader in this field. Theoptimised product range isdesigned to help textile finishersmeet top quality requirementswhile minimising costs.

Manmade fibres such as acrylicsand other cationic dyeable fibresallow designers to create a widevariety of articles without having toworry about problems like wearcomfort. That is why they are pop-ular for fashionable knitwear andfunctional sportswear as well astable linen, upholstery velvets, car-pets, bathmats and even the fab-rics used for cuddly toys and imita-tion fur. Alongside polyacrylonitrile(PAN) fibres, there is growingdemand for specialities such asmodacrylic, cationic dyeable poly-ester and polyamide and m-aramidfibres. Modacrylic fibres are mainlyused as flame retardant compo-nent in household textiles andfunctional fabrics such as blanketsin planes. Cationic dyeable poly-ester is frequently found in top-fashion sports and leisurewear,while blends of cationic dyeable

polyamide with standard poly-amide increase the variety ofshades that can be obtained oncarpets using the differential dyeingmethod. Workwear made from m-aramid fibres such as Nomex® pro-tects fire-fighters in extreme condi-tions and fireproof overalls made ofthe same material have long beenindispensable in motor racing.

The properties of cationic dyeablesynthetics are as multifarious astheir applications. Evidently, suchfibres are not easy to dye so textilefinishers need the necessary ex-pertise. For example, for specialprocesses such as dyeing PAN

Reliable and economical dyeing of high-quality fabrics made from cationic dyeable fibres

fibres during the wet spinningprocess high-quality liquid dyesthat meet narrow quality tolerancesare essential. The impact of steamand heat during production of thefibres places enormous demandson the Astrazon liquid dyes. How-ever, the benefit is that the fibrescan be dyed during the spinningprocess, thus reducing the dyeingprocess from hours to just sec-onds.

The new face of Astrazon

DyStar has restructured its broadoffering of cationic dyes under themotto “The new face of Astrazon”.

Dr. Rainer Casaretto, DyStar Textilfarben GmbH & Co. Deutschland KG

Cationic dyeable fibres have gained ground in recent years and now have a firm place

in modern fibre blends.

The restructured range is geared tothe latest fibre trends and reflectstoday’s wide range of fibres andfibre blends, rapidly changing fash-ion trends and steadily risingexpectations. New and optimiseddyes have been integrated to roundout the range. All imaginableshades can now be created withAstrazon dyes: from specialitiessuch as fluorescent yellow and redto popular black and navy bluehues.

There is no doubt that DyStar mar-kets the world’s widest and mostbalanced range of cationic dyes. Itcan therefore offer solutions for alltypes of cationic dyeable fibres.Unlike conventional Colour Indexproducts, Astrazon dyes meet con-sistently high quality standards,providing the basis for reliable andeconomical dyeing processes.

Clear benefits for textile finishers

Innovations and cost savings arevital to withstand internationalcompetition in the textile industry.As the world’s premier supplier of

textile dyes, DyStar offers cus-tomers the benefits of maximumColor Confidence and ControlledColoration through its Astrazondyes.

Color Confidence means the prod-ucts meet top standards of produc-tion fastness and shade consisten-cy throughout the productionprocess and have excellent serviceproperties. As well as havingextremely high light and wet fast-ness, Astrazon dyes meet the highweather fastness specifications setfor outdoor articles. Other high-lights are good solubility and lowdusting, ensuring excellent indus-trial hygiene. What is more, withAstrazon dyes conformance to allcommon ecological standardsincluding Oeko Tex Standard 100 isno problem.

Controlled Coloration ensures thatdyeing and printing processes runsmoothly. Astrazon quality dyesenable experienced dyers toachieve “right-first-time” quotas ofup to 98 percent because allAstrazon dyes are extremely well-

matched, allowing reliable dyeingeven if process conditions fluctu-ate. An additional benefit is thatdyeing processes can be optimisedwith the aid of Optidye® A comput-er software. That avoids faulty dye-ings, reduces unit production costsand raises productivity.

Always a step ahead

DyStar is one of the few suppliersthat invest in in-house research anddevelopment in the field of cationicdyes. At its headquarters in Frank-furt, Germany, it has the world’sonly pilot gel dyeing facility, whichis used to develop new liquid dyesand test and develop auxiliariesand fibres in simulated operatingconditions. This has enabledDyStar to increase its leading edgein cationic dyes in recent years.DyStar offers textile finishers anattractive package of optimisedAstrazon dyes and extensive serv-ice. That is the key to reliable dye-ing of modern fabrics, without clos-ing the doors to innovation.

The new Astrazon range offers a full range of shades for all types of cationic dyeable fibres.

In the world’s only pilot gel dyeing facility, DyStar tests new liquid dyes, auxiliaries and fibres under operating conditions.