Functional Finishing of Acrylic and Cationic Dyeable Fabrics: Intermolecular Interactions

Abstract

Similar to basic dyeing of fabrics, the intermolecular interactions of synthetic fibers and functional agents can be used in durable functional treatments for fabrics. As an example, biocidal quaternary ammonium salts are employed in chemical finishing of acrylics and cationic dyeable polyesters, and durable antimicrobial properties are achieved on the treated products. Finishing conditions such as temperature, agent concentration, pH of finishing baths, and addition of sodium sulfate more or less affect the exhaustion of the agents on the fabrics. Of these factors, the finishing temperature is the most important. The exhaustion of the cationic agents also depends on the anionic polymer structures.