Microencapsulated disperse dye can be used to dye hydrophobic fabric in the absence of auxiliaries and without reduction clearing. However, little available information for dyeing practice is provided with respect to the effect of microencapsulation on the dyeing behaviors of disperse dyes. In this research, disperse dyes were microencapsulated under different conditions. The dyeing behaviors and dyeing kinetic parameters of microencapsulated disperse dye on PET fiber, e. g., dyeing curves, build up properties, equilibrium adsorption capacity C-infinity, dyeing rate constant K, half dyeing time t(1/2), and diffusion coefficient D were investigated without auxiliary solubilization and compared with those of commercial disperse dyes with auxiliary solubilization. The results show that the dyeing behaviors of disperse dye are influenced greatly by microencapsulation. The diffusion of disperse dyes from microcapsule onto fibers can be adjusted by the reactivity of shell materials and mass ratios of core to shell. The disparity of diffusibility between two disperse dyes can be reduced by microencapsulation. In addition, the microencapsulation improves the utilization of disperse dyes due to no auxiliary solubilization. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: 484-491, 2011