Dyeing Procedures for Spandex® Using Orcolan Neutral™ and OrcoChrome™ Dyes
Acid dyes in general are applicable to Spandex®, however, premetallized dyes and mordant dyes offer the best dye penetration and overall fastness. These are called Orcolan Neutral™ and OrcoChrome™ dyes, respectively. Please refer to Dye Class Descriptions for Spandex® for more details.
Because Spandex® is typically used in blends with other fibers, please refer to Blends section of our website for dyeing procedures.
A few points to keep in mind when working with Spandex®:
- Do not exceed a temperature of 212°F(100°C) when processing Spandex®as it will change the physical properties of the fabric.
- Prolonged stretching of the fabric at elevated temperatures is not recommended as the yarn denier will be reduced and the stretch power of the Spandex® will be lessened and is not recoverable.
- Spandex® should not be processed with any chlorine-containing chemical as it will degrade and discolor the fiber.
- Spandex® should be scoured as soon as possible when received from the manufacturer as residual processing oils, over time, can degrade and discolor the fiber.