how is AirDye® different?
THE SCIENCE BEHIND AIRDYE®: A very close look at the AirDye advantage.
Conventional dyeing, such as vat dying or cationic dying, can produce good looking results. On the down side, they use polluting heavy metals, a huge amount of precious water and do not provide permanent coloration. Sublimation printing has been used to decorate textiles but is limited in application. AirDye advances both. Take a very close look.
Here are four microscopic photos of the neck section of a dyed synthetic T-shirt:
- Standard Sublimation & Heat Transfer Printing
The dye does not completely penetrate the fibers, therefore, white fiber may show after cutting or needle penetration.
- Conventional Dyes
After treatment in a water dye-bath, the fibers show complete dye penetration. However, colorfastness is low to moderate.
- AirDye Controlled Penetration
Using our proprietary Sibius™ Dyes, penetration is deeper. Colors are richer and colorfastness is better. Penetration control is used with Dye Contrast, Print 2 Dye, and Print to Print products, including AirDye wovens.
- AirDye® Complete Penetration
AirDye is so advanced that it not only colors the yarn, but also thousands of filaments in each piece of yarn, yielding rich, brilliant colors. Penetration is complete.
Conclusion
AirDye technology produces superior results compared to sublimation printing and conventional dyeing, but that is just the beginning of its advantages. AirDye technology also reduces detrimental impacts on the environment. And, because the dye is in the fiber rather than on the fiber, bleach and cleaning agents can't get to it; so colors look richer and last longer. The result is more beautiful colors and maximum color durability, with substantially less water and discharged chemicals.
Dyeing -- Toxic from the start. Until AirDye®.
4,000 years ago man used water to carry dye to a piece of fabric. Early water pollution was born. Since then, more and more chemicals have been added to color fabric, producing ongoing and ever worsening water pollution.
In the mid 20th century, came new fibers such as nylon and polyester. These new "high tech" fibers were difficult to dye so heavy metals and other toxic compounds were added to water baths to carry the dyes. These toxins end up in the world's lakes, rivers, and oceans causing horrific damage.
Today the World Bank estimates that 17-20% of industrial pollution comes from textile coloring and treatment. They've also identified 72 toxic chemicals in our water solely from textile dyeing, 30 of which are permanent.
What's more, traditional dyeing uses an astonishing amount of water. Estimates vary, but to color just one piece of fabric can take anywhere from seven to 75 gallons of water per pound of fabric (26 to 284 liters per .45 kilo). So traditional dyeing pollutes badly, widely, and continues to consume vast amounts of the world's increasingly scarce fresh water.
AirDye Technology. Answer To A 4,000-Year-Old Problem.
AirDye technology is a revolutionary new way to carry dye to fabric and other surfaces.
The result is luxuriously brilliant color and a world-changing impact on our planet's water shortage. Not a bad day's work.
