A textile dyeing process is described for dyeing a textile material, product or article consisting of animal fibers, comprising the steps of dipping said textile material, product or article into a dyeing bath comprising at least one detergent substance, a wetting substance, a leveling substance and an acidity regulator; adding to the dyeing bath a coloring substance approved for food use; subjecting the dyed textile material, product or article to washes; and finally subjecting the dyed textile material, product or article to a color fixing treatment.

A color hazing or decoloring agent including at least one compound selected from compounds represented by formula (1) and compounds represented by formula (2), and used for color hazing or decoloring of a fabric printed or dyed with a disperse dye:

R.sup.1OOCXCOOR.sup.2(1)

Y.sup.1O-(AO).sub.nY.sup.2(2) wherein, in formula (1), X is an alkylene or alkenylene group of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sup.1 is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R.sup.2 is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and in formula (2), AO is an alkyleneoxy group of 2 to 3 carbon atoms, n is an integer of 1 to 3, Y.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or an R.sup.3CO group, R.sup.3 is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Y.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or an R.sup.4CO group, and R.sup.4 is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

The subject invention provides environmentally-friendly compositions and methods for enhancing the printing and dyeing of goods such as paper and textiles. In certain embodiments, the methods of the subject invention comprise incorporating the application of a biological amphiphilic molecule into a printing or dyeing process to reduce chemical usage, reduce water usage, reduce water pollution and/or provide an added benefit to the process. In certain embodiments, the methods of the subject invention comprise substituting a chemical surfactant with a biological amphiphilic molecule in one or more steps involved in printing and/or dyeing that would traditionally utilize a chemical surfactant.

A treatment agent for image recording includes a cationic polymer emulsion and a cationic surfactant. A set usable for recording on a fabric includes a water-based ink for ink-jet recording including a colorant and water; and the treatment agent for image recording. A recording method for recording on a fabric by using the set includes: applying the treatment agent for image recording to the fabric; drying the treatment agent for image recording applied to the fabric; and jetting the water-based ink onto the fabric by an ink-jet system.

There is provided a treatment agent for image recording including: a cationic polymer emulsion; and a water-soluble organic solvent including a glycol-based water-soluble organic solvent of which boiling point is not more than 200 C. The treatment agent satisfies the following condition (1): 20A60. In the condition (1), A: a content amount (% by mass) of the glycol-based water-soluble organic solvent, of which boiling point is not more than 200 C., in an entire amount of the treatment agent for image recording.

There is provided a set including: a water-based ink for ink-jet recording including a dye and water; and a treatment agent including a cationic polymer emulsion which includes a cationic polymer including a urethane structure. There is provided a recording method for recording on a recording medium which is fabric or recording paper by using the set.

A set includes: a water-based black pigment ink for ink-jet recording; a water-based yellow dye ink for ink-jet recording; a water-based magenta dye ink for ink-jet recording; a water-based cyan dye ink for ink-jet recording; and a treatment agent. The water-based black pigment ink for ink-jet recording includes a carbon black and water; the water-based yellow dye ink for ink-jet recording includes a yellow dye and water; the water-based magenta dye ink for ink-jet recording includes a magenta dye and water; the water-based cyan dye ink for ink-jet recording includes a cyan dye and water; and the treatment agent includes a cationic polymer emulsion.

A dye additive suitable for use in improving the dyeing of aramid fibers includes non-water components dissolved in water. The non-water components include about 20-25% (w/w) sodium or potassium nitrate; about 20-25% (w/w) ketone solvent; about 30-40% (w/w) aromatic solvent; about 1-5% (w/w) of each of glycol ether, biodegradable solvent, acetic acid 56% strength or equivalent or equivalent amount of formic acid, brine salt, sodium or potassium hydroxide, and phenylenediamine, about 1-10% (w/w) of each of a strong acid, hydroxycarboxylic acid, and lanolin; wherein the water makes up about 50-70% of the weight of the dye additive and the non-water components make up about 30-50% of the dye additive. The dye additive may be added to a dye bath at a w/w percentage of about 0.25% to about 6%.

A textile material comprises a plurality of yarns, wherein the yarns contain an intimate blend of dyed polyphenylene sulfide fibers and cellulosic fibers. The dyed polyphenylene sulfide fibers comprise a disperse dye that is distributed substantially evenly across the cross-sectional area of the fibers. A method for dyeing textile materials containing polyphenylene sulfide fibers comprises the steps of (a) providing a textile material comprising yarns which contain an intimate blend of polyphenylene sulfide fibers and cellulosic fibers, (b) providing a dye liquor comprising a liquid medium and a disperse dye, (c) applying the dye liquor to the textile material, (d) heating the textile material under ambient atmosphere to a temperature sufficient to evaporate substantially all of the liquid medium from the textile material, and (e) heating the textile material under ambient atmosphere to a temperature of about 180? C. or more to fix the disperse dye to the polyphenylene sulfide fibers.

Provided are pretreatment compositions, pretreated fabrics, and methods of pretreating fabrics for improved printing quality. Pretreated fabrics include natural fiber fabric having a polymer coating. Methods of pretreating fabrics include spraying natural fiber fabric with a pretreatment composition that comprises one or more latex polymers, a coalescing agent composition, a surfactant composition, an ultraviolet stabilizer composition, an antioxidant composition, and a solvent.