A novel printing method to enhance the fixation of reactive dyes on wool–polyamide fabrics

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explain how colour fastness results are improved as a result of increasing the degree of fixation of reactive dyes on wool, polyamide and wool–polyamide blend fabrics. Wool–polyamide blend fabrics were printed with two different types of reactive dyes, e.g. monochlorotriazine and vinylsulphone. Trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) was added to the printing paste for controlling the pH level during the fixation process to get a maximum colour yield and a maximum dye fixation on the two components of the blend, e.g. wool and polyamide. In order to accelerate the reaction rate, a quaternising agent, e.g. triethylamine (TEA) was also added to the printing paste. The factors that may affect the efficiency of printing method, e.g. the concentration of TCAA, urea, wetting agent, TEA, steaming time and temperature were studied in detail.