Improvements in Dyeing Wool and Woollen Fabrics with Sulphonic Acids of Alizarine Coloring Matters.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE FARBWERKE vormals MEISTER LUCIUS
AND BRUNING, of Hoechst a/ Main, Germany, Chemical Manufacturers.]
Improvements in Dyeing Wool and Woollen Fabrics with Sulphonic
Acids of Alizarine Coloring Matters.
I, OLIVER IMRAY of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The sulphonic acids of alizarine coloring matters, especially the sulphonic acids
of alizarine, flavo- and anthrapurpurines were employed up to the present time
just like the non-sulphonised coloring matters-exclusively for wool-dyeing in the
mauner, that they were dyed on wool mordanted with metallic mordants that is to
say on
prepared wool " or that mordant and coloring matter were caused to act
simultaneously upon the wool causing the formation of the lake to proceed in
this way.
When the dyeing is proceeded with according to the first method, one is obliged,
firstly to make use of two baths; of which it is true, the mordanting bath can be
used continuously, but for the dyeing a fresh bath must be put up each time.
Secondly one is obliged in dyeing to proceed with scrupulous precautions in
regard to the temperature at which to proceed gradually with the heating up to
boiling temperature, and as to the proper handling of the materials otherwise the
dyeing would be far from uniform.
In spite of all the means suggested by circumspection it will be found impossible
to get a
through dyeing also with the sulphonic acids of the alizarine coloring
matters on somewhat strongly milled cloth, harder worsted yarn-stuffs or felt
hats and fezes. The close affinity of the coloring matters for the mordants prevents
the coloring matter from thoroughly penetrating the fibre and causes the lake
formation to go on solely upon the outer layers, while the interior remains undyed.
In consequence of this the stuffs are not dyed through.
In working according to the second method, the precautionary means must be
still more scrupulously observed. The formation of lake sets in immediately on
the coloring matter and the metallic salts coming into contact with the wool fibre
in the dyeing bath, and as the formed lake is extraordinarily solid and adheres
firmly to the wool fibre, it is uncommonly difficult to obtain a uniform dyeing even
to a limited degree. It is true, that there are employed in this one bath method
high priced organic acids, such as oxalic acid, tartaric acid etc. etc. in order to keep
back the lake formation as much as possible, but notwithstanding the various
ingredients proposed to this effect, but little success has been met with in practice.
Loose wool and yarns can be dyed, though with great difficulty, by the simultaneous
action of mordants and alizarine colouring matters, but it will never be possible to
do so with cloth; in practice this method is scarcely employed otherwise than for
very light shades. The stuffs always become scaled with this method.
It is quite impossible to through dye by the one-bath method, more or less
strongly milled cloth, fezes, felt hats or strongly beaten worsted stuffs.
My correspondents have discovered that faultless dyeings in every respect can
be obtained even on the hardest and thickest stuffs, when these are dyed first with
the sulphonic acids of the alizarine coloring matters in the presence of sulphuric
acid and sodium sulphate or sodium bi-sulphate the lake formation being provoked
only after the colors are fixed on the woollen fibre, by treatment in the same or in
a second bath with metallic salts such as alum, sulphuric acid, alumina, green
vitriol, chromalum, fluorchrom, potassium- or sodium-bichromate etc. etc.

page_text: ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Dyeing Wool and Woollen Fabrics with Sulphonic
Acids of Alizarine Coloring Matters.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
The sulphonic acids of alizarine coloring matters, especially the sulphonic acids

page_text: of alizarine flavo- and anthrapurpurines were employed up to the present time, just
like the non-sulphonised coloring matters, exclusively for wool-dyeing in the
manner that they were dyed on wool mordanted with metallic mordants that is to
say on
prepared wool" or that mordant and coloring matter were caused to act
simultaneously upon the wool; causing the formation of the lake to proceed in
this way.
"
When the dyeing is proceeded with according to the first method one is .obliged,
firstly to make use of two baths; of which it is true the mordanting bath can be
used continuously, but, for the dyeing, a fresh bath must be put up each time.
Secondly, one is obliged in dyeing to proceed with scrupulous precautions in
regard to the temperature at which to proceed gradually with the heating up to
boiling temperature, and as to the proper handling of the materials, otherwise the
dyeing would be far from uniform.
In spite of all the means suggested by circumspection, it will be found impossible
to get a through dyeing also, with the sulphonic acids of the alizarine coloring
matters, on somewhat strongly milled cloth, harder worsted yard stuffs or felt bats
and fezes. The close affinity of the coloring matters for the mordauts prevents the
coloring matter from thoroughly penetrating the fibre, and causes the lake formation
to go on solely upon the outer layers while the interior remains undyed.
consequence of this the stuffs are not dyed through.
In
In working according to the second method, the precautionary means must be
still more scrupulously observed. The formation of lake sets in immediately on
the coloring matter and the metallic salts coming into contact with the wool fibre
in the dyeing bath, and, as the formed lake is extraordinarily solid and adheres
firmly to the wool fibre, it is uncommonly difficult to obtain a uniform dyeing even
to a limited degree. It is true, that there are employed in this one bath method
high priced organic acids such as oxalic acid, tartaric acid etc. etc. in order to keep
back the lake formation as much as possible, but, notwithstanding the various
ingredients proposed to this effect, but little success has been met with in practice.
Loose wool and yarns can be dyed, though with great difficulty, by the simultaneous
action of mordants and alizarine colouring matters, but it will never be possible to
do so with cloth; in practice this method is scarcely employed otherwise than for
very light shades. The stuffs always become scaled with this method.
It is quite impossible to through dye by the one-bath method, more or less
strongly milled cloth, fezes, felt hats or strongly beaten worsted stuffs.
My correspondents have discovered that faultless dyeings in every respect can be
obtained even on the hardest and thickest stuffs, when these are dyed first with the
sulphonic acids of the alizarine coloring matters in the presence of sulphuric acid
and sodium sulphate or sodium bi-sulphate, the lake formation being provoked only
after the colors are fixed on the woollen fibre, by treatment in the same or in a
second bath with metallic salts such as alum, sulphate of alumina, green vitriol,
chromalum, fluorchrom, potassium or sodium bichromate etc. etc.
The advantages of this process over the dyeing methods heretofore known are
extraordinary and, for many branches of the wool manufacture, of far reaching
importance.
By this improved process the possibility is afforded:-
1. Of employing alizarine coloring matters for piece goods, cloth and fezes,
which goods, up to now, had to be dyed with coloring matters of a less degree of
fastness.
2. Of dyeing goods of various descriptions, for example military cloth, ready
made, which before had to be dyed in the grain, whereby the production in many
branches of the woollen manufacture is greatly simplified.
3. Of carrying out the dyeing without the precautionary measures necessary in
the old methods, as the stuffs can be brought on the dye bath at boiling temperature
without having to fear unevenness of shade.
4. Of a considerable saving in the cost of steam, wages and time, as compared

page_text: with the methods used before, by reason that the dyeing is done in one bath or in
two baths, which can be used continuously at boiling temperature.
EXAMPLE I.
FAST RED ON 100 PARTS BY WEIGHT OF MILITARY CLOTH.
A bath is put up containing 4 parts by weight of alizarine red IWS (the
sodium salt of alpha-beta-dioxyanthraquinone) and 20 parts by weight of sulphate
of soda, heated to boiling point, the previously washed and moistened wool is
entered, and kept at boiling point, while working the wool, for ths of an hour;
then 4 parts by weight of sulphuric acid of 66° Bé. diluted with water, are added
to the bath and this is boiled again for ths of an hour. There is now added to the
bath the solution of 10 parts by weight of alum, and the alumina-lake is developed
by boiling for ths of an hour. The cloth is thoroughly through dyed and absolutely
uniform, in the highest degree that it is possible to arrive at with the red-acid
coloring matters, known to give the most uniform shades.
I
1
.
EXAMPLE II.
STRAWBERRY-MODE COLOUR ON 100 PARTS BY WEIGHT OF CASHMERE.
A bath is put up containing 1 part by weight of alizarine red WS powder,
4 parts by weight of sulphuric acid, 10 parts by weight of sulphate of soda; the
well wetted goods are entered at 100° C. and boiled for an hour. Meantime there
is put up a second bath at boiling temperature containing 1 part by weight of
potassium bichromate and a third part by weight of sulphuric acid of 66° Bé., the
cashmere is brought from the preceding bath upon this second bath, without rinsing
it beforehand, and the shade of the chrome lake is developed by boiling for ths of
an hour.
The goods are thoroughly through dyed and absolutely uniform.
Both baths can be used continuously.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The herein described process for dyeing wool or woollen yarn or fabric with
sulphonic acids of alizarin coloring matters by first dyeing the wool with the
coloring matters in an acid bath (preferably with addition of sulphate of soda and
sulphuric acid) and then treating the wool thus impregnated with the coloring
matter sulphonic acids, in the same or in a second bath at boiling temperature
with metallic salts, capable of producing colour-lakes with the coloring matters
employed in the first instance.
2. Wool or woollen yarn or fabric having colour developed by the process herein
described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.