Oxidation dyes are typically used as permanent hair dyes. When dye intermediates are applied, they produce oxidation dyes through oxidation and addition reactions during dyeing process. Owing to the small size of the dye intermediates, they can penetrate into hairs or fibers easily. In this study, three oxidation dye intermediates (p-phenylenediamine, o-phenylenediamine, and N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine) were applied for dyeing of meta-aramid knitted fabric. Color yields (K/S values) of meta-aramid fabric dyed with oxidation dyes were highly dependent upon dyeing temperature, dyebath pH, and concentration of hydrogen peroxide. The oxidation dyes exhibited good build-up property when dyed at high temperature (110–130 °C), but showed poor build-up in the low temperature dyeing method (40 °C, 12 h). The dyed meta-aramid fabric exhibited brown, gray, pink, purple, and black hues. Wash fastness of meta-aramid fabric from high temperature dyeing was moderate to very good and that from low temperature dyeing was poor to moderate. Lightfastness was moderate with 4 rating for high temperature dyed meta-aramid fabric but it was very poor in the low temperature dyeing.
