| abstract |
A waterless dip dye composition for non-textile and general-utility articles comprises an aromatic ester of the formula ArCOOR2, ArCOO-R1-OOCAr or (ArCOO)z-R3, wherein R1 is alkylene of 2-8 carbon atoms or polyoxyalkylene of the formula -CrH2r(OCrH2r)s, in which r is 2 or 3 and s is 1 to 15; R2 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkenyl of 8-30 carbon atoms; R3 is the residue of a polyhydric alcohol having z hydroxyl groups; Ar is substituted or unsubstituted mono- or bicyclic aryl of up to 15 carbon atoms and z is 3-6, admixed with at least 0.5% by weight of a dyeing assistant agent and an organic colorant. A process for coloring non-textile and general-utility articles, fabricated from polyester, polyamide, polyurethane, acrylic, halogenated polyolefin or epoxy plastic, comprises exposing an article to the foregoing compositions, maintained at a temperature from about 100oC to the temperature at which the plastic degrades, for a time adequate to achieve the desired degree of coloration. |