Simultaneous low‐salt dyeing and anti‐bacterial finishing of cotton fabric with reactive dye and N‐halamine

Abstract

AbstractA reactive dye, Novacron Deep Orange S‐4R, and an anti‐bacterial precursor, 4‐(4‐(2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐4‐piperidinol)‐6‐chloro‐1,3,5‐triazinylamino)‐benzenesulphonate, both of which are monohalogenated‐s‐triazine–based compounds, were chosen for the simultaneous dyeing and anti‐bacterial finishing of cotton fabric. To effectively reduce the emissions of pollutants and the dosage of sodium sulphate added during dyeing and finishing, a cationisation reagent, 2,3‐epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride, was used to modify cotton fabric before dyeing and finishing. The cationised cotton fabrics obtained 0.18% active chlorine loadings and good dye depth after the simultaneous dyeing and finishing process with low addition of sodium sulphate. The chlorinated fabrics inactivated all inoculated Staphylococcus aureus (Gram‐positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram‐negative) within 10 minutes of contact. The treated cotton fabric maintained high breaking strength as well as good washing stability.