As part of my MSc in Textile Engineering at the University of Borås (Högskolan i Borås), I investigated a novel, resource-efficient method for dyeing and finishing wool fabric using a hydraulic spray (HS) atomising system. This continuous process replaces conventional wet dyeing and padding techniques, significantly reducing water, energy, and chemical consumption while maintaining high performance in colour strength and hydrophobic finishing.
The study compared one-step and two-step HS methods against traditional exhaust dyeing and pad-dry-cure finishing. Results showed that the HS method achieved water contact angles up to 145° (near superhydrophobicity), with an 88% reduction in water use and substantial savings in energy and chemicals. Although colour strength was slightly lower than conventional dyeing, the HS method offered faster processing, better surface finishing, and promising scalability for industrial application. Statistical analysis confirmed that fabric weight, dye type, and finish type did not significantly affect the HS process performance, supporting its potential for true-scale implementation.
This work contributes to sustainable textile processing by demonstrating a greener alternative to resource-intensive dyeing and finishing, aligning with global goals for net-zero energy, water, and waste in textile production.
Published Paper
Mulder, R., Morshed, M.N., Seipel, S. et al. Study on hydraulic spray atomizing system as a new resource-efficient dyeing-finishing method for wool fabric. *Scientific Reports* **12**, 21814 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26172-4 [nature](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-26172-4)