Real-Time Analysis and Control of Batch Dyeing Processes

Work summarized in this final report covering three years of research includes: 1) A method for real-time monitoring of disperse dye exhaustion on polyester and acetate; 2) A method for realtime monitoring of both reactive dye exhaustion and hydrolysis; 3) A comparison of a newly developed method for real-time monitoring of indigo with the conventional titrametric method; 4) Models of direct dye exhaustion developed with information from flow injection analysis; 5) A novel color matching system based on a neural network ; 6) Closed-loop control of acid dyeing of nylon with two dyes and with three dyes to give on-tone buildup; 7) Work to date on closedloop control of a laboratory jet dyeing machine. We believe that this work has redefined the manner in which the industry will look at monitoring and controlling dyeing processes.