Comparative Study on the Microwave-Assisted and Conventional Dyeing of Polyamide Fabric with Acid Dyes

This study compares the acid dyeing of Polyamide 6 (PA6) fabric using conventional heating and microwave-assisted techniques and examines reaction parameters (temperature, time, pH, dye concentration) on conventional and microwave system. C.I. Acid Blue 324 was used to explore the effects of critical process parameters, including pH, temperature, dyeing time, and dye concentration, on color strength (K/S). Conventional and Microwave Dyeing showed an inverse correlation between pH and K/S, with optimal color yield achieved at pH 3.0. Dye uptake was enhanced by increasing temperature, with maximum K/S obtained at 95°C for 30 minutes and the highest dye concentration (1.50 %). In contrast, the microwave-assisted dyeing methodology (160 W) drastically accelerated the process. Optimal conditions for microwave dyeing also favored an acidic media (pH 3.0) and showed a strong positive correlation between microwave exposure time and K/S. The microwave-assisted technique is confirmed as a rapid, energy-efficient, green process and effective alternative for dyeing PA6, offering significant potential for reduced processing time.