Dyeing behaviour of microwave assisted surface modified polyester fabric using disperse orange 25: Improvement in colour strength and fastness properties

For the present study, the polyester fabric and Disperse orange 25 dye solution were irradiated by microwave radiation for 1.5–7.5 min. Dyeing was performed using un-irradiated and irradiated polyester and Disperse orange 25 dye solution. The optimum value for microwave radiation time is 4.5 min using irradiated solution (RS) onto irradiated polyester (RP). Different dyeing parameters such as temperature, time, pH and material-to-liquor were optimised. Good colour strength was obtained at 80°C for 25 min, using dyeing bath of pH 8 keeping material-to-liquor ratio of 1:75. Weight loss as well as change in pH (before and after treatment) were also investigated. The reported data show that at the optimum conditions, colour strength values have been enhanced. Colour fastness properties using ISO standard method demonstrated that microwave radiation of both polyester fabric and dye solution has improved the grading of fastness from fair to good. It is found that microwave irradiation can successfully be applied to improve dyeing behaviour of fabric using various classes of dyes.