Increase of Color Depth of Black Dyed Polyester Fabrics by Sputter Etching

Four kinds of polyester fabrics, Taffeta, Pongee, NKF and Milpa were deyed with disperse black dye in black shade, and then treated by sputter etching. Change in color depth was investigated by K/S and L* on the basis of CIELAB color system. The K/S increased by sputter etching and L* decreased. As is evident from SEM observation, innumerable fine microcraters were produced on the fiber surface by sputter etching. These microcraters play an important role for the repression of light reflectance. It is clear that microcraters contribute to the increase of the color depth of dyed polyester fabrics by sputter etching.