Process of dyeability modification and bleaching of cotton in a single bath

Abstract

Graft polymerisation of the cationic monomer, methacryloylaminopropyltrimethylammonium chloride (MAPTAC), onto scoured cellulose was carried out in the bleaching process, aiming at modifying the fibre using a single bath. The extent of MAPTAC fixation on cellulose was measured. The bleaching performance of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of the modifying agent was found to be slightly reduced. The modified bleached cotton fabric was then dyed with a commercial reactive dye in the absence of salt. The dye uptake and colour strength of the modified fabric was markedly increased with an increase in the concentration of MAPTAC. This was attributed to the presence of the cationic groups of the MAPTAC which played a crucial role in attracting the anionic dyes from the dyebath. The results suggest that the dyeing properties of the modified fabric are closely dependent on the efficiency of MAPTAC fixation on cellulose during concurrent modifying and bleaching of cotton.