Dyeing and fastness properties of phthalimide‐based alkali‐clearable azo disperse dyes on poly(ethylene terephthalate)

The properties of a series of phthalimide‐containing azo disperse dyes and azo dyes with N‐methyl phthalimide moieties in their diazo component were investigated and compared when used to colour polyethylene terephthalate. The N‐substitution of the phthalimide gave a hypsochromic effect on the colour change and better colour yields on poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabrics, probably because of the electron‐donating property of the methyl group and the higher hydrophobicity of phthalimide‐containing azo dyes compared with those containing phthalimide moieties. The results show that phthalimide‐based azo disperse dyes have excellent dyeing fastness properties and that high wash fastness can be achieved using alkali clearance. This alternative clearance method is important for reducing the environmental impact of the dyeing process by replacing reductive clearing and, in particular, by removing the need for sodium hydrosulphite, which creates a high biological oxygen demand when released in conventional disperse dyeing effluent and which generates aromatic amines.