Vapor-Phase Dyeing Studies in PET and Their Bearing on the Effects of Water, and Carriers on Dye Diffusion

Diffusion results are reported for seven penetrants in poly(ethylene terephthalate), over the range 98 to 180°C, with penetrant application from the vapor phase. The penetrants are low molecular weight disperse dyes and smaller related compounds. These results, and earlier solution phase data, are analyzed in terms of a recently developed theory of diffusion in polymers, in an attempt to clarify the roles of aromatic carriers and water in promoting dye diffusion in PET.