Dyeing Nylon Fabric

Dyeing Nylon Fabric - Pincroft

While many dyeing companies who offer nylon fabric printing will use pigments when printing nylon, at Pincroft we do things a little differently. The main issue with using pigments to print onto nylon is related to the durability of the colour. Over time, the pigment will begin to harden and crack, which will eventually lead to the pigment falling off.

As an innovative commission dyer, we sidestep this issue by dyeing Nylon fabric instead. By dyeing rather than printing, we impregnate the fabric fibres with the colour, as opposed to printing which simply places pigments onto the fabric.

The reason that many companies opt for Nylon pigment printing is because it is an easier process to complete. Using acid dyes when dyeing nylon is a more complex process, with a need for exact colour matching in order to get the desired shade post dyeing, and specialist technology required. Doing this ensures excellent colour and wash fastness.

Find out about the other textile services we offer here: What we offer

Nylon 6 v Nylon 6.6

Nylon 6, and Nylon 6.6 are two of the most commonly used synthetic fibres in the textile industry, as their semi-crystalline structure means that they possess good strength and durability.

Nylon 6

Less crystalline structure
Lower mould shrinkage
Lower melting point
Lower heat deflection temperature
Higher rate of water absorption
Chemical resistance to acids is poor
Easier to colour
Cheaper

Nylon 6.6

More crystalline structure
Greater mould shrinkage
Higher melting point
Higher heat deflection temperature
Lower rate of water absorption
Greater chemical resistance to acids
Harder to colour
More expensive

Dyeing Nylon Fabric - Pincroft

Nylon Fabric – Applications

Nylon is a very versatile textile, and as such it is widely used in an array of applications. 2 oz and 4 oz nylon fabric is extremely lightweight, and as we work with a number of militaries, we often use a Multi-Cam® print to create dyed nylon which will be used for jackets and sleeping systems. Pincroft was chosen to be the official printer of Multi-Cam® camouflage fabrics in the European market by 1947 LLP. Find out more about Multi-Cam® here.

With our infrared expertise, we also have the ability to use our nylon fabric dyeing techniques to create IRR (Infrared Reflective) Fabric. IRR technology works through visual disruption, caused by the multi-layered infrared signatures for each colour within the print pattern, which have a specific reflective wavelength to blend in with colours in the infrared spectrum for the specific location garments are intended to be worn. This reduces the visual signature of the wearer, which means that the visual signature picked up by night vision cameras resembles the surrounding environment.

You can also add a PU or laminate coating to nylon textiles, which increase their water resistance, and can also add strength. Another of the finishes we can apply to a dyed nylon fabric is our Permethrin Finish. When impregnated into the fabric, this chemical finish will repel mosquitos, ticks and other vectors, and it will provide 99-100% bite protection for up to 50 industrial launderings.

Is it difficult to dye nylon?

When dyeing Nylon 6 or Nylon 6.6, the key is to use an acid dye with a PH level similar to that of vinegar, around 2 – 3. The difficult part of dyeing nylon fabric is shade matching. If you use multiple shades of acid dyes, the various different pigments in each dye could interact with each other, altering the final shade.

At Pincroft, with our extensive knowledge, technical expertise and state of the art equipment, we are adept at colour matching in order to achieve the desired shade as an end result. And our LaB colour testing facilities ensure that the finished fabric has the exact shade and tone that is required, while we can also provide tear strength, air permeability, abrasion resistance and infrared wavelength interpretation.