Oligomer is a smaller chain length of

polyester made up of two or more

molecules of basic ethylene
terephthlate i.e. dimer or trimer,
produced as a side reaction during
the manufacture of polyester. The
Oligoester because of its smaller
chain length is in the form of a fine
powder which is entrapped is basic
polymer and migrates to the surface
during high temperature polyester
dyeing.
cyclic tris (ethylene terephthalate)
Higher the depth more is the
displacement of Oligomer to the fibre
surface. Typically polyester fibres
contain between 1.5-3.5% by mass of
low molecular esters, the principal
oligomer being cyclic tris (ethylene
terephthalate) with smaller quantities of
dimer, pentamer & other compounds.
Approximately 0.1 % to 1.0 % of
Oligomer is produced as a side reaction
in the manufacture of basic polyester. cyclic tris (ethylene terephthalate)
 Spinning characteristics impaired.
 Filtration effect (inside – out variation) due to build up of
Oligomers in package.
 Reduced liquor flow through package of yarn because
spindle perforations are choked & improper pump
pressure due to deposits on pump.
 Variation in rate of rise of temperature due to deposits
on heating elements
 Dusting during coning & white particle deposits cause
dulling of the yarn/ fabric especially in dark shades i.e.
black & navy etc.
 Higher energy costs
 Presence can cause nucleation & growth of dye crystals
or agglomeration of dye particles & hence dye spots,
Duller shades, unlevelness & poor fastness.
 Need for more frequent cleaning of dyeing & winding
machines, hence increased down time & lower efficiency.
Those skilled in the art have therefore tried to remove
oligomers from polyester by means of various after-treatment
methods.

For example, it is known that oligomers may partly be

eliminated by rinsing the polyester with hot water or by
subjecting the polyester to an alkaline reductive after-
treatment in the presence of a tenside, for example a fatty
acid polyglycol ester, at elevated temperatures.

However, cyclic oligomers may be difficult to remove and

resistant to such an alkaline post treatment. Therefore, to be
effective, alkaline treatment must be severe, which results in
a significant loss of polyester fiber material.

 
Organic solvents have also been used to try to remove
oligomers from polyester but it is difficult to find one
that is compatible with and non-injurious to the textile
material.

Chlorinated hydrocarbons, fluorinated hydrocarbons and

hydrocarbons themselves have also been used in the art
to remove oligomer deposits.

All of the before-mentioned treatments used in the art

pose production problems along with time and cost
issues.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for removing

oligomer deposits that results in minimal interruptions in
production and poses little threat to the quality of the
polyester or polyester textile product.
Cyclic tris (ethylene terephthalate) is insoluble in water.
Solubility is increased in presence of carriers like Dylev-EC,
Dylev-CB , Dylev-DIF promotes migration of the trimer to the
surface of fibre. But a dispersing agent like Dytec-DAN should
be present to prevent crystallization & deposition of the
oligomers.The longer the dyeing time the more oligomers will
be released. Dark shades may produce more oligomer than
paler shades because the dyeing time is longer.

When oligomers are released from polyester fibre, after some

time at 130ºC, there will not be an efficient dispersing agent in
the bath to prevent crystillization of the oligomers, and to
prevent small particles of oligomers coming together to form
agglomerates, & depositing on the yarn & the machine.
Altrasperse-OLG liquid will maintain the oligomers in fine
dispersion form & prevent redepositing of the trimers on the
fabric so that when the machine is drained more oligomer goes
down the drain.
Receipe during dyeing:
In the case of dark shades and/ or long dyeing times, the following
formulation is recommended :
0.5 – 2 g/l Altrasperse-OLG liquid
0.5-1.0g/l Dylev DIF / Dylev-CB
0.5 g/l Dytec-DAN

Receipe during alkaline weight reduction of polyester:

During alkaline weight reduction of polyester terephthalic acid is
generated & to keep it in dispersion form Altranol-OR is very
effective. Altranol-OR act as a effective micronizer & disperser of
terephthalic acid.

Altranol-OR 1-2 g/l 75-80ºC for 20-30 mins

100-130ºC Warm rinsing

Weight reduction
Neutralization
Altranol-OR(75-80ºC)
The dyeing machine to be cleaned is filled with water and the following is
added:

3-5 g/l Altranol-ORM

4-6 ml/l Caustic soda solution 50%
1-2g/l Sodium hydrosulphite
 
Then heated upto 135ºC and treated for 20-40 mins. If possible, drain
immediately and rinse. Otherwise, cool to approx. 90ºC, drain and rinse.
On dyeing machines such as jets and overflows the additional use of a CO
back cloth has proved of advantage to increase the cleaning effect further.
In order to assess performance in dispersing oligomers, the degree of
dispersion was compared with and without Altranol-OR in the black
paper filtration of oligomers, extracted with the use of dioxane into an
acidic or alkaline solution.

1. Test on dispersion in acidic solution (to simulate

oligomer remaining during dyeing)
Oligomer solution 10 cc/200 cc
Altrasperse-OLG 1-2 g/l
Acetic acid pH=5
 
The dispersing agent was add to the test solution with pH adjusted to
5 using acetic acid while being stirred. After the temperature was
raised to 130 ゜ C then cooled to 80 ゜ C, suction filtration was carried
out using black filter paper.
2. Test on dispersion during weight reduction
　　　
Test Purpose: Dispersion of terephthalic acid generated by weight
reduction
Specimen: Liquor after weight reduction
Test items: Vacuum filter(Using black coloured filter paper
Test condition 20% liquid of caustic
treatment
20% liquid of caustic
treatment

Products Blank 1 Test No-1 Blank-2 Test No-2

Liquor 20% 20% 5% 5%

after solution solution solution solution
weight
reduction
Altranol- --- 2 g/l --- 2 g/l Blank
OR
Acetic 4.5-5.5 4.5 - 5.5 4.5 – 5.5 4.5 – 5.5
acid
pH

Altranol-OR(2 g/l)
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