Dyeing characteristics of Nylon, cotton and N/C mixture fabrics with reactive-disperse dyes containing a sulphatoethylsulphone group

The dyeing and color fastness properties of three reactive-disperse dyes containing a sulphatoethylsulphone group on Nylon, cotton and N/C mixture fabrics were examined. Reduction-clearing was more effective in removing the unfixed dyes than soaping since the reactive-disperse dye became hydrophobic during dyeing process. Nylon was dyed well with three reactive-disperse dyes at pH 5∼8 and difference in chemical structure between dyes did not affect the final color strength of the dyed Nylon fiber, but their build-up properties on Nylon were not so good. The color strength of the dyed cotton was not as high as that of Nylon. The color strength of cotton increased by lowering dyeing temperature when the reactive-disperse dyes having hydroxy group were used. Nylon absorbed more dye molecules than cotton in simultaneous dyeing, the color difference between Nylon and cotton could be reduced as the dyeing temperature decreased. N/C mixture fabric was dyed well at 60 °C with the reactive-disperse dyes having hydroxyl group when applied at pH 7 and 60 °C, and their build-up properties were good. It was also found that washing fastness and rubbing fastness of dyed Nylon, cotton and N/C fabrics with the reactive-disperse dyes were excellent, while light fastness was moderate.