A phenomenon in which, under high-temperature conditions, disperse dye already fixed within a fibre migrates to the fibre surface; said to occur more readily with smaller dye particles, and to give rise to colour transfer onto fabric it touches.
Claims and evidence (9)
The limitations noted for some sources are recorded in Japanese only — see the Japanese edition.
thermal migration (of disperse dye) ・mechanismStates that disperse dyes used on polyester are prone to sublimation, and that under high-temperature conditions dye migrates to the fibre surface ("thermal migration"), leading to colour transfer; dye-particle size varies, with smaller particles subliming more readily, and even dyeing at high temperature and pressure can leave dye particles sitting near the surface rather than penetrating the fibre interior.contextual
Scope: Colour migration in disperse-dyed polyester
The explanation of how thermal migration occurs and how dye particle size affects ease of sublimation.
thermal migration (of disperse dye) ・causesCites reported real-world accidents: red colour migrating onto a white fabric after they were stored stacked together; migration discovered after container transport; colour transfer occurring during warehouse storage; and migration found after goods were left in a hot car in summer.contextual
Scope: Storage and transport of disperse-dyed polyester goods
Specific examples of reported real-world colour-migration accidents.
thermal migration (of disperse dye) ・propertyLists as countermeasures thoroughly carrying out reduction washing after dyeing (using a reducing agent together with strong alkali at high temperature) and choosing dyes appropriately; notes that combinations with finishing agents or resin binders can also cause contact migration, and recommends checking beforehand with preliminary tests and using interleaving tissue paper during storage, alongside confirming colour fastness (e.g. sublimation fastness) in advance.contextual
Scope: Countermeasures against colour migration in disperse-dyed polyester goods
The recommended reduction-washing, dye-choice, storage precautions and preliminary testing.
Rubber-style screen-printing ink/binder causes thermal migration (of disperse dye)contextual
Scope: Printing rubber ink onto polyester ("dry") T-shirts (the author's practice, curing at about 170°C)
Explains that curing rubber ink at ~170°C causes the polyester's own dye to rise and migrate into the ink (called bleed/sublimation), giving the example of white-on-black print turning gray.
thermal migration (of disperse dye) ・propertyStates variability in how much bleed occurs depending on the dye quality — some fabrics barely bleed while others bleed extremely badly.contextual
Scope: Variability in polyester bleed severity (the author's practical observation)
States there is variation by dye quality, from barely-bleeding to extremely bad cases.
thermal migration (of disperse dye) ・attributed toStates polyester fabric dye bleed/migration is directly related to plastisol curing conditions: most polyester fabric dyes are relatively stable below about 320°F (160°C), but once the fabric reaches or exceeds that temperature the dye sublimates into a gas — described as the primary cause of "pink" plastisol designs seen when white ink is printed on red polyester-blend fabric.contextual
Scope: Plastisol curing and polyester fabric dye bleed
States bleed is directly tied to plastisol curing; most polyester dyes are stable below 320°F (160°C) but sublimate above it, the primary cause of "pink" white-on-red-polyester prints.
thermal migration (of disperse dye) ・causesDefines migration as disperse dye, not bonded to the fibre, moving over the fibre surface, which can transfer colour onto a light-coloured pigment print or reduce dry rubbing fastness. Cites a case where a white pigment print on a dark polyester shirt turned pink while in stock.contextual
Scope: Regular polyester, combined with white pigment print
States migration is disperse dye moving on the fibre surface because it is not bonded to it, transferring colour onto light-coloured pigment print or reducing dry rubbing fastness; gives a quality-incident example of a white pigment print on a dark polyester shirt turning pink while in stock. A diagram illustrates disperse dye within the polyester fibre migrating to the surface under heat, reaching the white pigment print applied there.
thermal migration (of disperse dye) ・propertyStates countermeasures: an appropriate test method (JIS L 0854 sublimation fastness, typically 120°C x 80 min, though some companies use 70°C x 48h or 130°C x 90min, and a matching fabric swatch may be used as the attached cloth); an appropriate quality standard (items below it improved via reduction-clearing, RC); and using thin interleaving paper (anti-sublimation paper) when packing, ideally specified in the sewing spec sheet. Also notes synthetic leather has high affinity for disperse dye and high staining risk, contact with moisture-wicking/quick-dry finished items can also promote staining, and that tape sewn onto white polyester fabric should be nylon rather than polyester.contextual
Lists countermeasures: (1) test method (JIS L 0854 sublimation fastness, typically 120°C x 80min though some firms use 70°C x 48h or 130°C x 90min, with a matching swatch usable as the attached cloth); (2) quality standard (improve sublimation fastness; items below standard treated with reduction-clearing/RC); (3) using thin interleaving paper when packing, ideally noted in the sewing spec; (4) other measures (synthetic leather has high affinity for disperse dye and high staining risk; contact with moisture-wicking finishes can also promote staining; tape sewn onto white polyester should be nylon; printing an anti-migration base layer as the first print layer).
thermal migration (of disperse dye) ・propertyIn a notice recommending checks of colour fastness, such as a sublimation fastness test, to prevent colour migration, Boken invites enquiries about test temperature and time, and gives the JIS L 0854 condition as 120 °C for 80 minutes and customised examples of 130 °C for 90 minutes and 60 °C for 48 hours, among others.contextual
Scope: As stated in a December 2022 topic sheet of the Boken Quality Evaluation Institute, a one-page notice from a testing body about colour-migration accidents and its own tests to prevent them. The "customised examples" follow the invitation to enquire about test conditions; the page does not say what use these conditions serve or what they are based on
Recommends checking with sublimation fastness tests and the like to prevent colour migration, invites enquiries about test temperature and time, and lists JIS L 0854 as 120 °C for 80 minutes and customised examples such as 130 °C for 90 minutes and 60 °C for 48 hours.
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