514th MEETING Of the NORTHEAST TENNESSEE SECTION

Date: Monday, January 24, 2000

Location: Eastman Lodge (map available upon request)

Speaker: Max Weaver, Eastman Chemical Company

Title: History of Textiles Dyes Research at Eastman

Abstract: In 1934, research to develop improved dyes for cellulose acetate was begun at Eastman Kodak in Rochester since the use of existing water-soluble acid, basic, and direct dyes to dye the new fiber had failed. Manufacture of acetate dyes was begun at Kingsport about 1938. During the next several years a complete line of acetate dyes was developed, but several deficiencies remained. In 1950, research work was moved to Kingsport and disperse dyes having outstanding properties for dyeing cellulose acetate, triacetate, polyester, and nylon were developed over the next 30 years. After "hard times" in the U.S. dyes business in the 1980’s, Eastman announced the sale of the dyes business to Ciba-Geigy on Feb. 26, 1986. Eastman, however, continued to manufacture textile dyes for Ciba-Geigy until 1999, with the last shipment being made on April 8. Over the last 60 years, Eastman has contributed much to the advancement of textile dyes and many dyes that were invented at Eastman are still sold in the world dyes market. Over 97,000 dyes have been prepared and evaluated on textile fibers and more than forty dye structure types (chromogens) have been studied. Highlights of these 60 years will be presented.

Max Weaver is a North Carolina native and received a BA in chemistry in 1958 from King College and a MA in chemistry from East Tennessee State University in 1963. He has 223 US patents and has published work in journals and has co-authored a chapter in a book. Honors and awards include NETSACS 1984 Speaker of the Year, a Honorary Doctor of Science from King College in 1991, and a Patenting Award of Distinction from Eastman Chemical Company in 1994. Mr. Weaver’s professional associations include American Chemical Society, the American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists, and the Colour Index Editorial Committee. He began work at TEC in 1958 as a laboratory technician and retired from Eastman Chemical Company in 1987 as a research associate. His entire career involved doing research on or development of textile dyes and dyes for coloring plastics. He was in charge of the Dyes Research Laboratory and Dyes Development Laboratory for several years. Since 1987, he has worked part time for Eastman Chemical Company and has been a consultant for Milliken Chemical and Eastman Kodak.