of Dyers and Colourists

eBook from the Society

Getting Results
from Your Coloration Laboratory
By James Park and John Shore
Copyright 2006 Society of Dyers and Colourists. All rights reserved. No part of
this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in
any form or by any means without the prior permission of the copyright owners.

ISBN 0 901956 90 2
Getting Results from Your Coloration Laboratory
By James Park and John Shore

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by the Society of Dyers and Colourists, the worlds leading professional society
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Authors Preface
The availability of efficient and adequate laboratory services is an important
factor for the success of the modern coloration operation. Increasing commercial
pressures together with the need for efficient and short processes, often in
conjunction with automation, has increased the importance of the works
laboratory in recent years. Concepts such as right-first-time and just-in-time
processing, with the need for quick response to changes in fashion trends, have
added to these pressures. Indeed, the laboratory must be the nerve centre of the
coloration operation if these objectives are to be achieved.
Since publication of the previous two editions of this volume there have been
major changes in the economic climate, including the transfer of much dye
manufacture and application to Asian countries, making it even more necessary
for the laboratory to fulfil its vital role. The virtual disappearance of technical
services from suppliers has meant that the wet processing operation must be
almost totally self-supporting technically.
Laboratory accreditation has become widespread and changes in company
organisation mean that many tasks formerly undertaken by the works laboratory
can be carried out more efficiently, cheaply, quickly or accurately by independent
contract organisations.
Major technical advances in the laboratory have occurred, including the
automation of weighing, dispensing and dyeing equipment. Robotisation of
equipment is now feasible and all staff are trained in the use of personal
computers. The current volume is intended to reflect these changes and covers
both exhaust and continuous dyeing techniques.
There has also been a change of emphasis in the type of work carried out in the
coloration laboratory, as a result of economic and time pressures, with an
increasing proportion of contracted-out testing. For this reason, many tests
formerly shown in full, and where specific national standard test method
references were given, have been curtailed to increase the global usefulness of
this edition.
The objective of this publication is to provide practical information which will be
useful for laboratory staff, mainly in the coloration industries. Background and
introductory information on colour for textiles has been given by Ingamells [1].
Another useful publication giving analytical methods for the textile laboratory
provides relevant additional information for chapters 5, 6 and 7 [2].
The authors would like to thank Mr S S Smith, formerly managing director of
Roaches Engineering, for writing chapter 11 and for constructive comments,
particularly as regards chapter 10.

References
[1] Colour for Textiles, W Ingamells (Bradford: SDC, 1993).
[2] Analytical Methods for a Textile Laboratory, Ed. J W Weaver (Research Triangle Park, NC:
AATCC, 1984).
Getting Results from Your Coloration Laboratory

By James Park and John Shore

Chapter List

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Organisation

Chapter 3 Water, Effluent and Boiler Water Testing

Chapter 4 Colour Assessment and Measurement

Chapter 5 Evaluation and Testing of Dyes

Chapter 6 Testing of Chemicals and Auxiliaries

Chapter 7 Fibre Identification, Chemical and Dyeing Tests on Substrates

Chapter 8 Fastness Testing

Chapter 9 Chemical and Physical Test Methods and Testing to Specification

Chapter 10 Laboratory and Pilot-scale Equipment for Exhaust Dyeing

Processes

Chapter 11 Laboratory and Pilot-scale Equipment for Continuous Dyeing

Processes

Chapter 12 Laboratory Dyeing Techniques and Procedures

Chapter 13 Process and Quality Control

Chapter 14 Complaint and Fault Investigation

Chapter 15 Conclusion