Huntsman Textile Effects has brought a next-generation diffusion accelerant, Univadine E3-3D, to the market to help mills achieve high-performance dyeing of polyester, microfibers and blends.
Univadine E3-3D is produced in an environmental friendly way that complies with current and anticipated industry sustainability standards. The demand for polyester and man-made fibers has grown as sports and athleisure apparel markets expand at a quick clip around the world. A report from Research and Markets said the global polyester staple fiber market is expected to reach $39.3 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%.
At the same time, brands in the sector continue to increase focus on sustainability and performance. This has increased the demand for sustainable textiles such as polyester made from recycled or discarded plastic. It has also put pressure on mills to eliminate chemically active diffusion accelerants that contain unwanted chemicals and require additional leveling agents and anti-foaming products that may be hazardous to people and the environment, Huntsman noted.
To meet that call, Singapore-based Huntsman developed Univadine E3-3D, a diffusion accelerant that is low-odor and free of benzyl benzoate and other hazardous substances. Part of Huntsman’s range of innovative dyEvolution dyeing auxiliaries, it uses Huntsman’s Active Diffusion Technology to enable the performance properties.
“Univadine E3-3D diffusion accelerant delivers across three key dimensions–diffusion, leveling and migration–for exceptional performance and environmental and economic sustainability,” Kerim Oner, global marketing manager for Dyeing Auxiliaries at Huntsman Textile Effects, said. “Its environmental credentials offer mills greater processing flexibility and an optimum price-performance ratio. We expect this latest offering to change the way that the industry dyes polyester and blends while meeting stringent environmental standards.”
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Univadine E3-3D diffusion accelerant has a high affinity to polyester, causing the fiber to swell and increasing the diffusion of the disperse dye, even at lower temperatures, Huntsman explained. Multiple leveling mechanisms then slow down the exhaustion rate to ensure safe, defect-free dyeing. As the dye bath heats up, the product’s strong support for disperse dye migration ensures the dye molecules are evenly absorbed.
As a result, the accelerant can be used to dye polyester fibers in tightly wound or high-density yarn or beam dyeing and is suitable for jet applications without the need for anti-foaming products. Reducing exposure to high heat, its Active Diffusion Technology minimizes the potential to damage the elastane in polyester-elastane blends and provides for on-tone dyeing of microfibers.
Polyester, microfibers and blends treated with Univadine E3-3D comply with the requirements of Bluesign, in addition to being suitable for Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX and an approved input dyeing auxiliary chemical for Global Organic Textile Standard certified textile products, Huntsman added.