Dyeing Behavior of Poly(acrylonitrile-CO-Haloalkyl Acrylate/Methacrylate) Fibers

Abstract

The dyeing behavior of poly(acrylonitrile-CO-haloalkyl acrylate/methacrylate) fibers was studied using three basic dyes and two disperse dyes. The diffusion coefficient values for the dyes were calculated from Hill's equation and related to the difference in molecular size of the dye molecules. The equilibrium dye uptake values were greater for copolymeric fibers and increased further with increased comonomer concentration. The increase in dye uptake was attributed to the loose packing of polymeric chains in copolymers and hence more free volume, a low glass transition temperature, free segmental mobility, and a greater number of accessible dye sites. The Arrhenius relation was used to relate the change in the apparent diffusion coefficient with absolute temperature, and the activation energy of dyeing was low for copolymers. Light fastness and wash fastness of the dyed fibers are also reported.