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Various synthetic fibres, viz. PET (polyethylene terephthalate), nylon 6.6, acrylic and lycra (polyurethane), have been
dyed with indigo blue at various pH. The pH values are achieved by controlling the relative amounts of sodium dithionite
and sodium hydroxide in the dyebath. PET, nylon 6.6, acrylic and lycra are dyed at 120, 100, 100 and 80 °C respectively for
30 min through an exhaust technique. The results show that leuco vat acid molecules exhaust well on all of these synthetic
fibres in the appropriate acidic region (pH being 5.5 – 6). Lycra produces the highest shade depth followed by acrylic, nylon
and then PET. On either side of this pH region, substantivity decreases. In the highly acidic region indigo molecules are
precipitated while in the alkaline region dye molecules are ionized, and the fibre polymeric material is hydrolyzed.
Reflection spectra show that the absorption maxima of indigo molecules are at 610 nm for PET, nylon and lycra while for
acrylic it is 560 nm. It is also suggested that dye molecules exist as single molecules in the fibre matrix because when indigo
is dissolved in dimethyl formamide it absorbs at 610 nm as well.
Keywords: Acrylic fibre, Dye-fibre chemistry, Indigo blue, Lycra fibre, Nylon 6.6 fibre, PET fibre, Reflection spectra
2.2 Methods
Pretreatment
Synthetic fibres contain little impurities in the bulk
of the material. Some of the added impurities, e.g.
lubricants and anti-stats applied during spinning have
to be removed. A light scouring treatment with 2 g/L
sodium carbonate at 60 oC for 20 min was given. The
samples were then rinsed with cold water followed by
drying overnight under ambient conditions. Fig. 1 — Process profile of indigo dyeing
Yarn (filament) Warp den Weft den Warp density Weft density Mass density Weave
ends/inch ends/inch gsm
now mono-sodium phenolate solely exists at this Fraction III = 1/ (1+10c+10d) …(2)
point. This mono-ionic form then starts converting
into di-sodium phenolate form. It can be seen from where c = (pK1 - pH) and d = (pH – pK2)
the figure that the end-graph becomes stable once
again. During this, di-ionic form starts appearing in Fraction IV = 1/ (1+10e+10f) …(3)
equilibrium with mono-ionic form. We finished here
because pH values beyond this were ineffective for where e = (pK1 +pK2 – 2pH) and f = (pK2 - pH)
dyeing of synthetic fibres. Average value of pH is
found to be approx. 11.1 in the region upto the 3.2 Dyebath pH vs. Colour Strength
concentrations studied, however it definitely increases Figure 4 shows the colour strength of indigo on
upto pH 12 – 13 when di-ionic form is completed. various synthetic fibres dyed at various pH values.
Dyebath pH behaviour of acrylic fibres at the end is The shade depth decreases steeply at pH values lower
quite different from that of the other fibres. At higher than 5.5 – 6. When indigo is reduced with sodium
alkali concentrations cyano groups (-C≡N) are dithionite, acidic inorganic products are generated
hydrolyzed. Hydrolysis of cyano groups leads to the which are highly soluble in aqueous solution. Leuco
formation of carboxylic acid groups that are vat acid, being a very week acid, is sparingly soluble
neutralized with sodium hydroxide. Due to in aqueous medium. Because of the presence of
consumption of alkali, pH of the dyebath does not highly soluble acidic impurities, the solubility of
increase appreciably toward the end of the graph. leuco vat acid is reduced. If these acidic products are
It is possible to calculate different fractions of not consumed, then according to the Le Chatlier’s
leuco vat acid (Scheme 1) which is present at a principle the reaction should have not proceeded
particular pH by using the Eqs (1) – (3)18. It can be further. It is suggested that below pH 4 – 4.5, acidity
seen from Fig. 3 that leuco vat acid remains as the is so high in the dyebath that most of the leuco vat
major fraction upto pH 6 and after this its acid is precipitated and this is supported by the
concentration drops down steeply. This is bound to be observations that at the end of dyeing in this region, a
in line with our results. As the pH increases, di- black dispersion is produced and therefore very little
sodium form also starts appearing. At pH 9, both the dye exhausted onto the fabric. Although in the pH
curves of the leuco vat acid and mono-phenolate form range 3 – 5, leuco vat acid is the sole product of
cross each other. Beyond this, leuco vat acid reduction reaction, most of it is precipitated from the
diminishes steeply and converts into the mono- solution.
sodium phenolate form. At a pH of 11, di-sodium An increase in pH beyond 5 leads to proper
form starts appearing, although it is in minute amount. colloidal solubilisation of leuco vat acid. The
presence of dispersing agents helps stabilize the
Fraction II = 1/ (1+10a+10b) …(1) dispersion of leuco vat acid. Around pH 6 leuco vat
where a = (pH – pK1) and b = (2pH – pK1 – pK2)
acid still shares 98% of the strength in the dyebath below pH 4 – 5 hence; pH should have to be
solution (Fig. 3), and therefore a maximum shade controlled carefully and never be dropped down blow
depth is produced on all of the synthetic fibres as 5. The pH-dependant behaviour of synthetic fibres
shown in Fig. 4. The shade depth produced on various exhibits that pH could be used as a
fibre is in the following increasing order: lycra > retarder/exhaustion-controller during vat dyeing of
acrylic > nylon > PET (Table 2). Lycra fibres are not these fibres. Unlike PET, nylon and acrylic form a
highly crystalline fibres. The highly amorphous wide plateau between pH 5 and approximately
regions in lycra are the main reason for high shade (Table 2). This shows that while dyeing these fibres,
depth being produced. In the case of PET, shade depth pH variations in that regions could be tolerated. High
decreases sharply after pH 6. In the case of lycra, colour yield on lycra fibres is simply due to the high
acrylic and nylon fibres, dye exhausts upto pH 8 as amorphousity of the polyurethane polymers.
well. When pH increases the mono-sodium phenolate
form also starts appearing that leads to decrease in 3.3 Colorimetric Properties
dye build up. This decrease in shade build-up Figure 5 shows the reflection spectra and
continues to decrease until pH 9. Beyond this pH colorimetric properties of indigo on PET, nylon,
range, the mono-sodium phenolate form acrylic and lycra fabrics. The samples were dyed to
predominates, while the vat acid remains in very 1% (o.w.f). Reflection spectra shows that the
minor quantity. This minor quantity of vat acid absorption maxima of indigo in PET, nylon, acrylic
continues to tint all of the synthetic fibres. It is and lycra are at 610, 610, 560 and 610 nm
evident from Fig. 4 that there is little shade depth respectively. When applied to cotton fibres, indigo
Table 2 — Effect of optimum pH range and average colour
absorbs maximally at 660 nm7. There is a shift
strength of indigo on various fibres towards shorter wavelengths in maximum absorption
of 50 nm for PET, nylon and lycra and 100 nm for
Fibre λmax, nm Optimum pH Average K/S acrylic. It is known that indigo molecules exist as
aggregates in the cotton fibres and that this
PET 610 6 7.5
Nylon 6.6 590 5.5 – 7.75 12 aggregation increases during soaping of dyed fabric.
Acrylic 610 5.5 – 7.0 17.5 When Indigo is dissolved in dimethyl formamide and
Lycra 610 6 – 7.5 25 light absorption is measured spectrophotometrically,
the absorption maximum is found at 610 nm like most newly generated polymer chains. The free carboxylic
of the synthetic fibres. It can be deduced from these acid groups are neutralized with the alkali present in
results that indigo molecules exist in the synthetic the dyebath. This neutralization leads to negative
fibres as single molecules. Dyeing of polyester with potential being developed on the surface of fibres,
disperse dyes is explained on solid-solution theory. which cause repulsion of ionized leuco vat acid
Since indigo absorbs at 610 nm when dissolved in molecules. If processed for longer duration at higher
dimethyl formamide where it forms a true solution, it temperature in the alkaline regions, polyester fibres
is proposed that indigo molecules also form a solid lose much of their mechanical properties. Nylons and
solution with synthetic fibres. Figure 5 also presents lycra fibres contain amide groups in the backbone of
colorimetric properties of indigo on various synthetic their polymer chains. Amide groups, like esters, are
fibres. It can be observed from the graphs that shade also vulnerable to hydrolysis that leads to the
is redder-bluer on lycra while on all others fibres it is formation of free amine and carboxylic acid groups.
greener-bluer in tone. Highest chroma is exhibited on These later groups could then consume alkali present
lycra and the least one on PET. Nylon and acrylic in the dyebath and become charged negatively.
remain between these two fibres. Acrylic fibres are the most susceptible to hydrolysis
3.4 Dyebath pH vs. Fibre Chemistry than any others. Acrylic fibres contained cyanide,
Scheme 2 shows some of the chemical reactions chlorine, acetate and acrylamide groups pendants to
that synthetic fibres may undergo during dyeing. PET polymer chains. Cyano groups are the main groups
contains a large number of ester groups in the while other functional groups are introduced to reduce
backbone of their macromolecules. Ester groups are crystallinity of the fibres. Cyano groups are unstable
stable at pH 5 - 5.5 and this is one of the reasons why in the acidic as well alkaline region, more in the later.
PET fibres are dyed on commercial scale around this In the alkaline region cyano groups are hydrolyzed to
pH region. However, alkaline pH is detrimental to the carboxylic acid groups. These acidic groups are then
integrity of these fibres. In the alkaline pH region neutralized with the dyebath alkali and lead to the
polyester fibres are hydrolyzed and this hydrolysis formation of carboxylates. It can be concluded that in
rate is directly related to processing temperatures. the alkaline pH region synthetic fibres are degraded
Hydrolysis of PET leads to the formation of free and because of acquiring negative potential the dye
alcoholic and carboxylic acid groups at the end of molecules do not adsorb into fibres. Since, all of these
4 Conclusion
Synthetic fibres, viz. polyester, nylon, acrylic and
lycra, could be dyed with vat dyes. Dyebath pH is one
of the main potential factors during dyeing that must
be chosen and controlled properly. Leuco vat acid
dispersions are unstable at too low pH values while in
the alkaline region dyes molecules are ionized and
synthetic fibres developed negative potential. Water
Scheme 3 — Synthetic fibres – indigo interactions solubility of the ionized dye molecules and the
synthetic fibres can be dyed around pH 5.5 – 6, there negative potential attained by fibres at higher pH
are no worries of fibre degradation in this region. values are the main reasons for little exhaustion of
dye molecules in the alkaline media. Appropriate pH
3.5 Dye-Fibre Interactions region for dyeing is observed as 5.5 – 6, though some
Indigo molecules exhibit good substantivity for fibres absorbed dye upto pH 8 as well. At a sodium
synthetic fibres. No doubts, substantivity depends on dithionite concentration of 10 g/L, 0.6 – 0.8 g/L
the form of indigo molecules. Oxidized indigo concentration of sodium hydroxide is sufficient to
molecules do not have substantivity, while as the attain pH in the range of 5.5 - 6. Sodium dithionite is
dyebath pH increases the substantivity decreases. It is a reducing agent that produces inorganic acidic
an appropriate acidic pH region where indigo products on decomposition; therefore, higher
molecules exhaust well to the synthetic fibres. From concentrations of sodium dithionite may require
Fig. 4, it is clear that even at a particular pH (6 for higher amounts of sodium hydroxide to achieve the
example), color strength is not the same. It can be required pH. So, there is a direct relationship between
inferred from the previous discussion that dye concentration of sodium dithionate and sodium
molecules and fibre chemistry have great influences hydroxide to achieve a specific pH. Indigo molecules
on dyeing properties. Scheme 3 shows some of the do not exist as aggregates within the fibre matrix that
possible interactions that may give rise to leads to exhibiting different light reflection properties.
substantivity forces between fibres and dye On the commercial scale, polyester-cotton blends are
molecules. Indigo molecules have ketonic groups in dyed mostly with disperse-reactive dye systems. The
the oxidized state. present work suggests that a single bath dyeing of
polyester-cotton blends could be carried out with vat
After reduction, ketonic groups are converted into
dyes that could save energy and processing time.
hydroxyl groups. These hydroxyl groups are ionized
depending on pH, as shown in Fig. 3. PET fibres have
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