Microscopical Investigation of Cotton Chemically Modified to Accept Wool Dyes for Wool/Cotton Blend Textiles

Abstract

Renewed interest in textile blends of wool and cotton has led to developments in union dyeing (same shade on both wool and cotton fibers) that has potential for increased markets for both fibers as trans-seasonal apparel. The difficulty of efficiently dyeing wool and cotton to the same shade has limited the availability of yarns and fabrics containing blends of both fibers. In fabrics containing blends of cellulosic cotton and proteinaceous wool, it is generally necessary to employ more than one class of dyes and the process involves several steps with adjustments of pH and temperature. The ARS process provides maximum effectiveness and efficiency for one-step union dyeing. It requires pretreatment before dyeing to impart cationic character to cellulosic cotton so that it can compete with protonated wool for a common anionic dye. Three pre-treatments have been applied.