The Effect of Light on Dyed-Stilbene Fluorescent-Brightened Wool

Abstract

The effect of three representative stilbene fluorescent brighteners on light-induced changes in the color and tensile properties of wool samples dyed with three acid dyes, two reactive dyes, and a cationic dye was studied. The brighteners alone on wool caused yellowing and deterioration in the dry and wet tensile properties of the undyed wool, whereas the fluorescent brighteners had much less effect on irradiated dyed wool samples. In most cases the dyes protected the wool from brightener-induced color change and deterioration in tensile properties. The particular structures and combination of dye and fluorescent brightener had only a limited effect on the degree and nature of light-induced change in the color and tensile properties.