Electrostatic application of dyestuffs in the dry state

摘要

A method and apparatus for the dyeing of textile fabrics through the electrostatic application of dry dyestuffs is disclosed. The fabric to be dyed is first dampened and then passed between a pair of electrodes which are maintained at a potential difference by an electrostatic generator. A dyestuff is deposited on the bottom electrode and is attracted toward the wet fabric, which bears against the top electrode, through the action of the electrostatic field between the two electrodes. The field causes the dyestuff particles to impinge against the wet fabric, to which the particles become bound. The bottom electrode may also be agitated in order to facilitate the transfer of dyestuff particles to the fabric. The fabric with the dye particles adhering to it is then fixed to complete the dyeing operation by being steamed or dried and heated. The method of the present invention is especially valuable insofar as it results in the more economic use of dyestuffs and an effluent containing quantities of pollutants somewhat lower than those quantities of pollutants found in the effluent of conventional dyeing processes.