Influence of Mercerization and Crosslinking of Cotton Fabrics on Dyeing Kinetics of Direct Dyes from Finite Baths

Abstract

Dyeing of cotton fabrics treated with dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea and trieth anolamine is discussed. Adsorption time curves from finite baths of untreated, mer cerized, and crosslinked cotton print cloths have been studied. Mercerization did not change heterogeneous diffusion resistance but increased adsorption equilibrium con stants, dyeing affinities, and diffusion coefficients. Maximum dyeing capacities of mer cerized cotton were lower. Crosslinking reduced most of the kinetic constants (rate constants, structural diffusion resistance constants, maximum dyeing capacities, ac tivation energies, and diffusion coefficients). Triethanolamine additive enhanced the kinetic constants and the dyeabilities of crosslinked cotton fabrics. The results indicated that in the crosslinked cotton, triethanolamine reacted preferably with the crosslinks and not with the remaining free reactive groups of cotton fabric.