A whitening composition for fabric, in particular, unbleached cellulosic fiber-containing fabric. The composition includes a blue dye, a violet dye; and, optionally, a thickening agent; wherein the composition is free of bleaching agents and optical brighteners. A method of whitening a fabric using whitening compositions is also disclosed.

A reactive black dye composition is disclosed, which comprises: (A) a reactive blue dye represented by the following formula (I) or a salt thereof; and (B) a reactive red dye or a salt thereof, a reactive yellow dye or a salt thereof, or a combination thereof.

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Herein, R.sub.11, X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.31, X.sub.41 and n are defined in the specification. In addition, a method for dying fibers using the aforesaid reactive black dye composition is also disclosed.

The present invention provides a production process characterized in that a false twisting process is added between a spinning process and a winding process so that yarn slivers undergo excessive pre-torsion in an axial direction and twists which are same in quantity but different in twisting direction are generated on the yarn slivers. Absorption of glucose-containing sulfur dyestuff is performed in a dyeing process. An ammonia removal process is performed in a high-temperature and high-pressure tank so that residual ammonia in a fabric is evaporated. The evaporated ammonia is collected and then fed back to a mercerizing process for continuous use. The present invention also provides a production line including a spinning unit having a false twisting device, a dyeing unit configured to realize the dyeing process, and a liquid ammonia finishing unit consisting of a fabric mercerizing device, an ammonia removal device, an ammonia recycling device and a controller.

The present invention provides a production process characterized in that a false twisting process is added between a spinning process and a winding process so that yarn slivers undergo excessive pre-torsion in an axial direction and twists which are same in quantity but different in twisting direction are generated on the yarn slivers. Absorption of glucose-containing sulfur dyestuff is performed in a dyeing process. An ammonia removal process is performed in a high-temperature and high-pressure tank so that residual ammonia in a fabric is evaporated. The evaporated ammonia is collected and then fed back to a mercerizing process for continuous use. The present invention also provides a production line including a spinning unit having a false twisting device, a dyeing unit configured to realize the dyeing process, and a liquid ammonia finishing unit consisting of a fabric mercerizing device, an ammonia removal device, an ammonia recycling device and a controller.

Processes and apparatus for dyeing a textile product are provided whereby an undyed textile product is introduced into a substantially anaerobic dyeing chamber having an oxygen content of less than 1000 ppm oxygen therein, and at least two dye mixtures having a differential dye exhaustion rate of at least 10% are applied onto the textile product within the substantially anaerobic dying chamber. Thereafter the dyed textile product may be exposed to an oxygen-containing atmosphere so as to oxidize the applied dyes. At least one of the dyes may have a dye exhaustion rate of at least about 25%, or even at least about 50%. The embodiments herein are especially adapted to dyeing of textile products whereby one dye in the at least two dye mixtures is a sulfur dye and another dye in the at least two dye mixtures is a leuco indigo dye.

Processes and apparatus for dyeing a textile product are provided whereby an undyed textile product is introduced into a substantially anaerobic dyeing chamber having an oxygen content of less than 1000 ppm oxygen therein, and at least two dye mixtures having a differential dye exhaustion rate of at least 10% are applied onto the textile product within the substantially anaerobic dying chamber. Thereafter the dyed textile product may be exposed to an oxygen-containing atmosphere so as to oxidize the applied dyes. At least one of the dyes may have a dye exhaustion rate of at least about 25%, or even at least about 50%. The embodiments herein are especially adapted to dyeing of textile products whereby one dye in the at least two dye mixtures is a sulfur dye and another dye in the at least two dye mixtures is a leuco indigo dye.

Disposable cleaning wipes having a use indicator are provided that are suitable for use in home and industrial cleaning applications. The cleaning wipes comprise cellulosic fibers, an antimicrobial agent and an indicator complex, the indicator complex including (i) a colored compound selected from the group consisting of a phthalocyanine compound, an ultramarine compound, and an iron oxide compound, and (ii) a cationic agent. The indicator complex is releasably attached, by ionic bonding, to a discrete region of the fibrous sheet. The anti-microbial compound is also attached, by ionic bonding, to the fibrous sheet. Thus, in use, the indicator complex is released by the fibrous sheet commensurate with the release of antimicrobial agent. The release and loss of the indicator complex provides the user with an indication of when the antimicrobial agent within the fibrous sheet is substantially depleted and the cleaning wipe should be replaced.

Disposable cleaning wipes having a use indicator are provided that are suitable for use in home and industrial cleaning applications. The cleaning wipes comprise cellulosic fibers, an antimicrobial agent and an indicator complex, the indicator complex including (i) a colored compound selected from the group consisting of a phthalocyanine compound, an ultramarine compound, and an iron oxide compound, and (ii) a cationic agent. The indicator complex is releasably attached, by ionic bonding, to a discrete region of the fibrous sheet. The anti-microbial compound is also attached, by ionic bonding, to the fibrous sheet. Thus, in use, the indicator complex is released by the fibrous sheet commensurate with the release of antimicrobial agent. The release and loss of the indicator complex provides the user with an indication of when the antimicrobial agent within the fibrous sheet is substantially depleted and the cleaning wipe should be replaced.

A method of ring dyeing a yarn comprises a series of steps, including providing a yarn chosen from the group consisting of open-end yarns and ring yarns. The yarn is immersed for between 7 to 40 seconds in a caustic bath having a caustic concentration of 50 to 175 g/l. The yarn is skyed after removal from the caustic bath. The yarn is rinsed in water after skying. The yarn is chosen from one of open-end yarn and ring yarn and is dyed in only one sulfur dye box when the yarn is open-end yarn and ring yarn or is dyed at least one indigo dye box when the yarn is open-end yarn. The yarn is washed in water after the dyeing step and thereafter the dyed yarn is dried.

A method of ring dyeing a yarn comprises a series of steps, including providing a yarn chosen from the group consisting of open-end yarns and ring yarns. The yarn is immersed for between 7 to 40 seconds in a caustic bath having a caustic concentration of 50 to 175 g/l. The yarn is skyed after removal from the caustic bath. The yarn is rinsed in water after skying. The yarn is chosen from one of open-end yarn and ring yarn and is dyed in only one sulfur dye box when the yarn is open-end yarn and ring yarn or is dyed at least one indigo dye box when the yarn is open-end yarn. The yarn is washed in water after the dyeing step and thereafter the dyed yarn is dried.