Improvement in the light fastness of dyed meta‐aramid fabric using titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Meta‐aramid fibre is very difficult to dye because of its very high crystallinity. The major issues with dyeing meta‐aramid fibre are its selective dyeability with a particular class of dye and poor light fastness, especially with basic dyes, which is not acceptable. In this work, various dyeing trials of meta‐aramid fabric with two commercial basic dyes, Bezacryl Golden Yellow GL 200 and Bezacryl Blue FBS, were conducted on high temperature–high pressure and infrared dyeing machines. To improve the light fastness of dyed samples, titanium dioxode nanoparticles were applied on dyed fabric using a layer‐by‐layer technique. Fastness properties such as light, wash and rubbing were checked for untreated and titanium dioxode‐treated samples. Titanium dioxode application on dyed material improved the light fastness of Bezacryl Golden Yellow‐dyed samples significantly, and Bezacryl Blue FBS also showed an improved rating compared with that previously reported. Improvement in light fastness is selective but it is still a novel and viable route to improve the light fastness of dyed meta‐aramid fabrics.