Abstract: Trichromatic dyeings with acid dyes which exhaust from strongly acidic liquors have weaknesses with respect to wet fastness, which are due to insufficiently fast components (blue, red). It has been found, according to the invention, that by replacing the insufficiently fast acid dyes by reactive dyes of the vinylsulfonyl type and retaining the method of dyeing under strongly acidic conditions the wet fastness level of the exhaust dyeings can be improved while the levelness obtained remains as good.

Abstract: The dyeing of wool with reactive dyes in a strongly acid medium (containing sulfuric acid) requires no longer acceptable, long heating-up times (50-60 minutes) in order to obtain level dyeings. It has now been found, according to the invention, that by rapidly heating up the dyebath which contains the dyes of the vinylsulfonyl type and also all the ingredients, except the acid, to the dyeing temperature together with the material to be dyed and then metering in the sulfuric acid under isothermal conditions at the dyeing temperature it is possible to obtain very level and very fast dyeings in a significantly shorter overall dyeing time. Carbonized wool can be dyed without prior neutralization.

Abstract: The level dyeing of wool with reactive dyes and simultaneous endeavors to shorten the dyeing process appear to be incompatible. It has now been found, according to the invention, that in the course of the exhaustion process it is possible through metered addition of the acid required for fixation over a prolonged period to the dyebath which is already at the dyeing temperature and contains no acidic fixing agent to obtain a shortening in the total treatment time while at the same time safeguarding the levelness of the dyeings.

Abstract: Hitherto there has been no practical pad-dwell process for wool piece goods which could be carried out without using large amounts of textile assistants. In addition, it has been necessary with all these processes to supply energy. Furthermore, large amounts of urea have always been used, which inevitably resulted in a high degree of waste water pollution. It has now been recognized according to the invention that satisfactory results can be obtained in the dyeing of wool piece goods with reactive dyes by effecting the padding operation with the dye solutions within the pH range from 1.5 to 4 and at room temperature and the subsequent dwell operation to obtain dye fixation without supply of heat. To prevent the formation of a frosting effect and to obtain deeper shades it is expediently possible also to add to the padding liquor nitrogen-containing ethoxylation products, in particular ethoxylated fatty amines, and/or alkyl polyglycol ethers.