TIE DYE WITH SODIUM CHLORIDE

Abstract

A method of making a tie dye solution for a fabric includes adding a first predetermined weight of sodium chloride to a second predetermined weight of a dye, wherein the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride is based on the color of the dye. The method further includes mixing the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye together to form a dry dye mixture, dispensing the mixed first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye into a dye bottle, and adding water to the dye bottle having the mixed first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye to form the tie dye solution.

Description

FIELD

This application relates to a tie dye with sodium chloride.

BACKGROUND

Tie dyeing is a method of producing colorful patterns on clothing. A tie-dye on clothing is made by tying the clothing and then dyeing it with various colors. This can include folding, twisting, pleating, or crumpling the clothing, tying it, and then dyeing it with colors. The result is a colorful pattern such as a spiral, polka dot, or bulls eye pattern on the clothing. It is desirable to optimize dye strength to improve its ability to impart color to materials. Sodium chloride (salt) along with urea may be added by an end user (i.e. dispensed separately) to the dye in the dye bottles in an attempt to increase dye strength. But controlled experiments have shown that urea has no beneficial effects on dye strength.

Tie dyes may benefit from improvements.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present invention, a method of making a tie dye solution for a fabric is provided. The method includes adding a first predetermined weight of sodium chloride to a second predetermined weight of a dye, wherein the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride is based on the color of the dye. The method further includes mixing the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye together to form a dry dye mixture, dispensing the mixed first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye into a dye bottle, and adding water to the dye bottle having the mixed first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye to form the tie dye solution.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of making a tie dye solution for a fabric is provided. The method includes adding sodium bicarbonate and a first predetermined weight of sodium chloride to a second predetermined weight of a dye, wherein the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride is based on the color of the dye. The method further includes mixing the sodium bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye together to form a dry dye mixture, dispensing the mixed sodium bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye into a dye bottle, and adding water to the dye bottle having the mixed sodium bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye to form the tie dye solution.

In another aspect of the present invention, a tie dye mixture for a fabric is provided. The tie dye mixture includes a first predetermined weigh of sodium chloride and a second predetermined weight of dye. The first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride is based on the color of the dye.

Other aspects of the disclosed invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a container containing dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride before being mixed according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a filler machine and tumbler mixing apparatus in which the filler machine is about to deposit the pre-weighed sodium chloride into the tumbler mixing apparatus containing sodium bicarbonate and dye according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a grinding machine that is grinding sodium chloride having a coarse grain to sodium bicarbonate having a fine grain according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a container containing dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride uniformly mixed according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the uniformly mixed dry mixture of the dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride of the container of FIG. 4 poured through a funnel into a dye bottle according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a dye filling machine dispensing a predetermined amount of the uniformly mixed dry mixture of the dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride into a dye bottle according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of a dye filling machine dispensing a predetermined amount of the uniformly mixed dry mixture of the dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride into a dye bottle according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the dye bottle containing the predetermined amount of the uniformly mixed dry mixture of the dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the dye bottle containing water mixed with the predetermined amount of the uniformly mixed dry mixture of the dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the dye bottle with the dye solution mixture, and a pre-moistened fabric dispensed with the dye solution mixture according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a method for making a tie dye fabric according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations in addition to the described example embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed description of the example embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, as claimed, but is merely representative of example embodiments.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obfuscation. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain example embodiments.

Reactive dyes have varying solubility in water and affinity for fabric. Dyes with high water solubility tend to stay in the solution rather than migrate and affix to the fabric. Adding sodium chloride to water generally reduces dye solubility and drives more dye toward the fabric. Higher dye concentrations on the fabric lead to greater dye strength.

Because of the varying solubility of different colors of dye, different quantities of sodium chloride are required to attain optimal solubility for a given color. The present invention has determined the different solubility requirements and ideal sodium chloride concentrations for each color. In addition, the present invention deposits the correct amounts of sodium chloride into the respective dye bottles during the manufacturing process, using standard filler machines. This process makes it very convenient for the end user to achieve the best results and allows the end user to enjoy the benefits of optimized dye solubility in a pre-bottled solution, so that they do not need to manually measure and add the sodium chloride.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a dye bottle 20 is provided as seen in FIG. 10. The dye bottle 20 contains a dye solution mixture 22 comprising a reactive dye 24 (FIG. 1), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) 26 (FIG. 1), sodium chloride (salt) 28 (FIG. 1), and water. The dye solution mixture 22 is applied to a fabric 46 (usually cotton) that is pre-moistened with water.

Reactive dye is employed to impart color to natural (non-synthetic) fabric fibers. When the dye comes into contact with natural fabric fibers, it forms covalent bonds with cellulose in cotton fabrics. Sodium bicarbonate is employed to raise the pH of the dye solution and thereby open up more binding sites on the fabric to receive the dye. Sodium chloride can be used with certain dyes to decrease solubility in water, which causes the dye to migrate toward fabric and bond with it. Water serves as the carrier for dye, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium chloride. It wets the fabric and distributes the dye over the surface. The fabric, usually pre-moistened cotton, is the substrate, or surface onto which the dye affixes.

Fiber Reactive dye type influences the effectiveness or lack thereof of sodium chloride. Highly water soluble dyes benefit from added sodium chloride. They are rendered less soluble in salt water and migrate to more hospitable environments such as fabric fibers. Dyes that benefit from added sodium chloride include, but are not limited to, turquoise and yellow.

Dyes with lower solubility in water do not benefit from added sodium chloride because they tend to migrate into fabric fibers as-is. The additional “push” from sodium chloride to reduce solubility further causes the dye molecules to clump together, or flocculate. The dye will still migrate toward and adhere to fabric, but the end result is a blotchy, unappealing appearance. Dyes that do not benefit from added sodium chloride and actually show problematic flocculation include red, fuchsia, violet, and purple.

With reference now to FIG. 12, an example methodology 200 is illustrated and described as to how to make a tie dye fabric according to a first embodiment of the present invention. While the methodology is described as being a series of acts or steps that are performed in a sequence, it is to be understood that the methodology is not limited by the order of the sequence. For instance, some acts or steps may occur in a different order than what is described herein. In addition, a step may occur concurrently with another step. Furthermore, in some instances, not all steps may be required to implement a methodology described herein.

First, in step 202, the dye 24, the sodium bicarbonate 26 and the sodium chloride 28 contents are pre-weighed. As mentioned above, the amount of sodium chloride 28 added or not added depends on the dye color. In particular, for turquoise colored dye, a 4 ounce dye mixture in the dye bottle 20 contains one half teaspoon (about 3.4 grams) of sodium chloride 28. Other dyes that benefit from salt addition such as yellow contain one half teaspoon or a lesser quantity of salt per 4 ounce bottle, depending on experimental results. Dyes 24 such as red, fuchsia, violet and purple contain no salt, as experiments have demonstrated that it is detrimental to performance. FIG. 1 shows the sodium chloride 28, the sodium bicarbonate 26, and the dye 24 of the dye solution mixture 22 before being mixed together.

If coarse salt grains 30 are used, the sodium chloride 28 might need to be added to the bottle in a separate step, or in step 204 grounded by a grinding machine 32 (FIG. 3) to a fine particle size 28 to blend better with the dye 24 and the sodium bicarbonate 26. In step 206, the correct amount of sodium chloride 28 is added along with the corresponding amounts of the dye 24 and sodium bicarbonate 26 for the respective dye bottle 20 in a tumbler mixing apparatus 36 (FIG. 2) using a standard filler machine 38 (FIG. 2). The amounts of the dye 24 and sodium bicarbonate 26 for the respective dye bottle 20 may also be added into the tumbler mixing apparatus 36 using a respective standard filler machine 38 for each substance. FIG. 2 shows the pre-weighed sodium chloride 28 being added by a filler machine 38 to the pre-weighed dye 24 and sodium bicarbonate 26 in the tumbler mixing apparatus 36 to be uniformly mixed.

In step 208, the pre-weighed dye 24, sodium bicarbonate 26 and sodium chloride 28 contents are then uniformly mixed in the tumbler mixing apparatus 36 (FIG. 2). In particular, the tumbler mixing apparatus 36 is activated to cause the dye 24, sodium bicarbonate 26 and sodium chloride 28 to tumble for 10 or more minutes until the sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and dry dye mixture 40 is homogeneous. Then, in step 210, the dry dye mixture 40 is dispensed by appropriate weight into the dye bottles 20 using a dye filling machine 42 as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the dry dye mixture 40 may be dispensed by appropriate weight from a container of FIG. 4 into the dye bottle 20 by a user through a funnel 44 inserted into the dye bottle 20. FIG. 9 shows the dry dye mixture 40 in the dye bottle 20.

Then in step 212, the bottle of the dry dye mixture 40 of sodium chloride 28, sodium bicarbonate 26, and dye 24 is then added with water and shaken well for about 60 seconds until the bottle contents are dissolved. FIG. 10 shows the dissolved dye solution mixture 22. Then, in step 214, the dissolved dye solution mixture 22 is dispensed onto a pre-folded fabric 46 (FIG. 11). The fabric 46 may be pre-moistened to help distribute the dye 24 in the dye solution mixture 22. In step 216, the dye or dyes 24 that are dispensed onto the pre-folded fabric 46 are allowed to set for 6-8 hours or overnight. In step 218, the dyed fabric 46 is then rinsed until the water runs clear and then laundered and dried. FIG. 11 shows the dye solution mixture 22 applied to a pre-moistened fabric 46.

Alternatively, step 216 could include placing in the microwave oven safe container the pre-folded fabric 46 with the dyes dispensed thereon. The container and fabric are microwaved for two minutes and allowed to cool for 20 minutes. This reduces the amount of time required for the tie dye to ‘set’ in the fabric. Normally it takes over 8 hours at room temperature, but by using the heat generated in the water by the microwave, this process can be sped up to around 2 minutes plus a cool-down period of 20 minutes.

Sodium bicarbonate 26 raises the pH of the solution and the fabric to expose the dye bonding sites on the fabric. The salt in turn facilitates dye migration by making the aqueous (water) environment less hospitable to dye and the fabric (by default) more hospitable to dye. The present invention would introduce sodium chloride only to bottles of dye that benefit from sodium chloride addition, and in the quantities found to create optimal solubility without creating dye clumping, or flocculation. Sodium chloride benefits some dyes, but has little or even negative impacts on other dyes. It is an objective of the present invention to allow interactions between dyes containing sodium chloride and those not containing sodium chloride to be not detrimental to performance.

Dye Testing

Dyes are tested by three methods using a control group of fabric swatches with each fabric swatch having dye and sodium bicarbonate dye solutions, and an experimental group of fabric swatches with each fabric swatch having dye and sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride dye solutions in accordance with the present invention.

The first method to administer is the ten drop test on a pre-moistened 4″×4″ cotton fabric swatch. The test procedure involves the application of ten drops of dye in the center of the 4″×4″ swatch. The second method is 60 seconds of full immersion of a pre-moistened 4″×4″ cotton fabric swatch in dye solution. The third method is 60 seconds of full immersion of a multi-fabric swatch in dye solution.

In each method above, the swatches are covered with plastic sheeting and left undisturbed overnight. The following day, the swatches are rinsed under cold running water until it runs clear. Then the swatches are laundered on regular cycle (warm wash and cold rinse) using powder detergent. Finally, the swatches are placed into a dryer on low heat setting until dry.

Dye Analysis

The swatches are sorted into pairs. Each pair contains one control swatch and one experimental swatch. Each pair of control and experimental swatches are visually examined for dye strength. Fabric swatches that show a deeper, more saturated dye shade are considered the better performers.

A more objective spectrophotometer evaluation is also conducted on the 4″×4″ swatches that are fully immersed in dye solution. The control and experimental swatches are scanned on a spectrophotometer and a color strength analysis is performed. The swatch with the highest calculated color strength is considered to be the best performer. In cases where the experimental swatches show increased dye strength compared to the control, salt is added to the formula, up to, and including one half teaspoon per 4 ounce bottle. In cases where the experimental swatches show lesser strength and/or flocculation compared to the control swatches, salt is not added to the formula.

Although various embodiments of the disclosed tie dye with sodium chloride have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of making a tie dye solution for a fabric comprising:

adding a first predetermined weight of sodium chloride to a second predetermined weight of a dye, wherein the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride is based on the color of the dye;

mixing the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye together to form a dry dye mixture;

dispensing the mixed first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye into a dye bottle; and

adding water to the dye bottle having the mixed first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye to form the tie dye solution.

2. A method of making a tie dye solution for a fabric comprising:

adding sodium bicarbonate and a first predetermined weight of sodium chloride to a second predetermined weight of a dye, wherein the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride is based on the color of the dye;

mixing the sodium bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye together to form a dry dye mixture;

dispensing the mixed sodium bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye into a dye bottle; and

adding water to the dye bottle having the mixed sodium bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye to form the tie dye solution.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising dispensing the tie dye solution on the fabric.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein adding sodium bicarbonate and a first predetermined weight of sodium chloride to a second predetermined weight of a dye is performed using a filler machine.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein mixing the sodium bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye together is performed using a tumbler mixing apparatus.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the filler machine adds the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride to the sodium bicarbonate and the dye in the tumbler mixing apparatus.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein dispensing the mixed sodium bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye into a dye bottle is performed by a dye filling machine.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein mixing the sodium bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye together is performed such that the resulting mixture is homogeneous.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising shaking the tie dye solution in the dye bottle until the bottle contents are dissolved.

10. The method of claim 2 further including grinding the first predetermined weight of sodium chloride prior to mixing the sodium bicarbonate, the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride and the second predetermined weight of the dye together.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride is at a value that attains optimal solubility in water for the color of the dye to achieve optimal dye strength with respect to the bonding of the dye to the fabric without creating dye clumping, or flocculation.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein one half of a teaspoon of the sodium chloride per four ounces of the dry dye mixture is added into the dye bottle before the water is added.

13. A tie dye mixture for a fabric comprising:

a first predetermined weigh of sodium chloride;

a second predetermined weight of dye, wherein the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride is based on the color of the dye.

14. The tie dye mixture of claim 13 further comprising sodium bicarbonate.

15. The tie dye mixture of claim 14 further comprising water.

16. The tie dye mixture of claim 13, wherein the first predetermined weight of the sodium chloride is at a value that attains optimal solubility in water for the color of the dye to achieve optimal dye strength with respect to the bonding of the dye to the fabric without creating dye clumping, or flocculation.

17. The tie dye mixture of claim 13, wherein four ounces of the tie dye mixture includes one half of a teaspoon of the sodium chloride.