Assessment of uniformity of fibre coloration in Tencel woven fabrics dyed using reactive dyes

Weave structure and fabric density has an influence on dye penetration. The uniformity of dyeing, expressed as the uniformity of fibre coloration, of Tencel woven fabrics comprised of different weave structures, was assessed. The fabrics were dyed by exhaust and continuous dyeing methods using selected reactive dyes. Cross‐sectional images were captured and then given a rating 1–5 with respect to the depth of the fibre filaments of the yarn of the woven fabric. The images were assessed both subjectively and objectively. The uniformity of fibre coloration was expressed in terms of the standard deviation, mean value and histogram analysis such as dispersion and bandwidth. Objective assessment of uniformity of fibre coloration is a more accurate and quicker method than visual assessment and can be used to assess the uniformity of fibre coloration of woven and knitted fabrics dyed by any class of dyes. Improvement of the uniformity of fibre coloration of Tencel fabrics of various weave structures by causticisation of the fabrics and by modification to the padding process was investigated.