Dyeing of acrylic /wool blends One bath method This method is suitable for producing light to medium-depth shades with basic dyes and acid, milling, or metal complex dyes. The use of Nearclear VL, as an anti-precipitant, is essential in one-bath dyeing. The bath is set at about 40° C with: 1. 1 g/l Nearclear VL 1 – 1.5% Valsol LTA-N 1 – 2% acetic acid (60%) to pH 5 2% sodium acetate Then add: 2. Basic dyes for acrylic Then add: 3. Acid or metal complex dyes

One bath two-stage method This method is suitable for producing medium-depth and heavy shades with basic dyes and acid, milling, or metal complex dyes. The bath is set at about 40° C with: 1. 1 – 1.5% Valsol LTA-N 1 – 2% acetic acid (60%) to pH 5 2% sodium acetate Then add: 2. Acid or metal complex dyes Raise temperature to 80° C And run minutes, and add: 3. Basic dyes After raising the temperature to 80° C and running for 10 – 15 minutes, the acid or metal complex dye should be almost exhausted. Then the basic dye can be added to the bath without danger of precipitation. There is no need to add a levelling agent for the basic dye because the basic dye will initially be taken up by the wool, and then slowly released to the acrylic fibre as the temperature is increased to 100° C.

A A B B These dyeings have been done without levelling agent The exhaustion shows that at low temperature the basic dye is taken up by the wool, and then, as the temperature is increased, the basic dye is released and is taken up by the acrylic fibre.