Navy and Black Colors for Sportswear
Navy and Black Shades for Sportswear
Archroma, one of the world's leading companies in specialty chemicals for sustainable solutions, announced that it has added two new metal-free* and halogen-free* acid dyes to its Nylosan® S series.
Deep tones represent approximately 80% of the outdoor and sportswear textile market, which is under pressure to offer more sustainable products. In this context, the new Nylosan® Navy S-3R and Black S-3N, developed specifically by Archroma for polyamides and blends, address a long-standing four-market demand for blacks and navy shades.
First, the Nylosan® S series offers metal-free* alternatives to dyes that typically contain metal and are commonly used to dye polyamide and nylon. The new Nylosan® Navy S-3R and Black S-3N take the industry standard a step further by offering a halogen-free* option to manufacturers, brands and retailers seeking to provide the safest quality available.
Second, the Nylosan® S series now contains a broad color range with these new dyes targeting the color matching and fastness properties of iconic black and navy shades from leading sportswear brands. To support this color matching process, Archroma introduces colorimetric dye primers for mills to (re)match color standards.
Third, the new navy and black dyes exhibit the same color fastness as dyes used in many leading color standards; this means that navy and black shades created with the Nylosan® S series will not be metameric to the color standard under multiple light sources, whether artificial or natural, indoors or outdoors.
Third, the new navy and black dyes exhibit the same color fastness as dyes used in many leading color standards; this means that navy and black shades created with the Nylosan® S series will not be metameric to the color standard under multiple light sources, whether artificial or natural, indoors or outdoors.
Fourth, the launch of the new Nylosan® Black S-3N finally makes metal-free* black dyeing on polyamide possible, a situation that did not previously exist. Both dyes exhibit the other typical properties permitted by the Nylosan® S series, namely high fastness and buildup and a broad shade range for industry-leading metal-free* acid dyes, are REACH registered and bluesign® approved.
Additionally, at the heart of the new CONSCIOUSLY DEEP system with the new Nylosan® Navy S-3R and Black S-3N, Archroma offers another welcome advantage in polyamide production, namely water savings.
As most sportswear manufacturers and brands know, creating durable deep colors on nylon is a complex process that uses large quantities of water and energy. Archroma therefore designed the new CONSCIOUSLY DEEP system to allow for a highly efficient level dyeing process reduced from 6 baths to 2 baths.
This reduces process time by up to 36%, water consumption by up to 64%, energy by up to 46% and CO2 emissions by up to 41% compared to traditional level dyeing.
Mark Dohmen, Head of Centre of Competence Synthetics, explains: "Innovation is a key enabler on Archroma's Path to Sustainable Change. With the CONSCIOUSLY DEEP system based on the new Nylosan® S navy and black shades, we are combining all three: safer components free of metal and halogen*, a more efficient process with less water, energy and greenhouse gases, and enhanced value with a more desirable and durable product. In this way, Archroma is helping to transform our industry because this is our nature."
* Below detection limits according to industry standard test methods.
