Poly(Acrylic Acid) Starch Composite as a Substitute for Sodium Alginate in Printing Cotton Fabrics with Reactive Dyes

Abstract

Abstract Poly(acrylic acid)‐starch composites were prepared by polymerizing acrylic acid with maize starch using KMnO 4 /citric acid as redox initiator system. These composites were used as pastes for printing cotton fabrics with reactive dyes. Results indicate that these composites are of great potential value as thickeners for printing according to the flat screen technique using steam as well as thermal means for dye fixation on the cotton fabric. The colour strength as well as overall fastness properties are comparable, if not superior, to those fabric samples printed using sodium alginate as a thickener.