Effects of microwave irradiation using a household microwave oven on the physical properties of polyester fabric and its implications for dyeing

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers require high-temperature and high-pressure dyeing with disperse dyes owing to their hydrophobic characteristics. This process poses challenges in terms of energy consumption and environmental impact. Microwave dyeing has attracted attention as a method for tackling these challenges. Microwaves can heat materials rapidly and uniformly, and this technology is expected to reduce the dyeing time and improve energy efficiency. However, the effects of microwave treatment using household microwave ovens on the physical properties of PET fabrics have not been sufficiently investigated. In this study, the effects of microwave irradiation using a household microwave oven on the physical properties of PET fabrics were systematically investigated, and their implications for disperse dyeing were discussed using Disperse Orange 3 as a model dye. No significant changes were observed in the apparent static friction coefficient, tensile strength, or fabric thickness with microwave irradiation. Although a slight decrease in stiffness was observed, the decrease did not show a systematic dependence on irradiation time or the presence or absence of intervals during irradiation. The pilot dyeing experiment using Disperse Orange 3 suggested that microwave irradiation enabled colorimetric properties comparable to those obtained by conventional atmospheric-pressure heating in a shorter treatment time under the experimental conditions of this study. The results also suggested the possibility of reducing the amount of dispersant used. These findings indicate that microwave irradiation using a household microwave oven may have implications for the development of simple disperse dyeing processes for PET fabrics.