Indian Journal of Fibre & Textile Research

Vol. 33, March 2008, pp. 58-65

Dyeing of cotton fabrics with reactive dyes and their physico-chemical properties
Md. Shamsul Alam a, G M Arifuzzaman Khan, S M Abdur Razzaque, M Jamil Hossain & M Minhaz-ul-Haque
Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh
and
Sonia Zebsyn
Department of Home Economics, National University, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Revised received 21 May 2007; accepted 7 September 2007

The effect of dye concentration, electrolyte concentration, dyeing time and dyeing temperature on dyeing performance of
cotton fabric dyed with reactive dyes, viz. Reactive Red 6B and Reactive Yellow RL, has been studied. The dye absorption
increases with the increase in electrolyte concentration, dyeing time and dyeing temperature but decreases with the increase
in dye concentration. Considering the effects of various external influences on the dyed cotton fabric, it has been observed
that the Reactive Yellow RL imparts better physico-chemical properties than Reactive Red 6B in most cases.

Keywords: Colour fastness, Cotton fabric, Dimensional stability, Dyeing, Reactive dyes, Pilling
IPC Code: Int. Cl.8 D06P

1 Introduction dyes, reactive dyes were commercially most popular

Cotton has achieved a place of pride amongst the
cash crops all over the world. The unmatched beauty
and comfort of cotton fabric has mainly been
responsible for the spread of its cultivation in the
areas of our sub-continent. It is the most pure
cellulosic fabric, which contains 95-98% α-cellulose
and lower content of lignin.1-4
Fabric is dyed generally in order to enhance its
pleasing appearance by the attraction of hue. Dyeing
does not mean only to impart attractive hue but also to
attain the fastness of colour of the fabric. The stability
of colour or its fastness is one of the most important
requirements of valuable customers. During use, a
dyed material is exposed to a variety of agencies that
can cause its colour fade, i.e. the colour decay from
deeper to paler shade. These changes occur because of
the decomposition of the dye molecules in the fabric
or their removal into the external medium. The
coloured textiles show different resistance power to
different agencies. Hence, many colour fastness tests
were carried out to determine the stability of colour in
textile.5,6
Before 1884, celllulosic fabrics were dyed using a
mordant or by means of indigo and a limited number
of naturally occurring vat dyes. Both of these methods
were troublesome and expensive. Among the various
_______________
a
To whom all the correspondence should be addressed.
E-mail: gm_arifuzzaman@yahoo.com
for the last few decades due to their acceptable price,
good colour value and reasonably good fastness
properties. Recently, Zaman et al.7 carried out
research on optimization of jute fibre dyeing with
reactive dyes and mordant dyestuffs under few
external influences. In few cases, they reported that
the low exhaustion and consequently the low fixation
are due to the decrease in reactivity of dyestuff with
the fabric, which ultimately affects the wet fastness
properties.7-14 Besides, many countries have their own
national colour fastness testing standards, viz. WASO,
ISO, BS, DIN, ASTM and ATCC, but unfortunately,
the conditions for a given test vary considerably.6
Therefore, in the present investigation, an attempt has
been made to evaluate optimum dyeing conditions
and to study the effect of various external influences
on physico-chemical properties, viz. pilling,
dimensional stability and colour fastness to wash,
light, dry cleaning, perspiration, salty water,
chlorinated water, acids, and alkalies, of cotton fabric
dyed with reactive dyes. The study will be very
helpful to implement testing standards and procedure
to improve the performance of textile goods.
2 Materials and Methods
2.1 Materials
Knitted cotton fabrics were procured from S & W
Textile Ltd. Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The fabric
was scoured and bleached using 1 g/L anti-crescent
 ALAM et al.: DYEING OF COTTON FABRICS WITH REACTIVE DYES & THEIR PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
PAMN, 0.50 g/L peroxide stabilizer, 1 g/L acetic
acid, 1 g/L wetting agent, 2 g/L sodium hydroxide and
3 g/L H2O2 at 100°C for 60 min, maintaining the pH
at 11 and fabric-to-liquor ratio at 1:8. The bleached
fabric was washed and subjected to drying. The
reactive dyes, viz. Reactive Red 6B (C.I. No 18852)
and Reactive Yellow RL (C.I. No. 18200), procured
from Kemafix, India, were used without purification.
2.2 Optimization of Dyeing Conditions
To find out the optimum conditions of dyeing of
cotton fabric with reactive dyes, the dye
concentration, electrolyte concentration, dyeing time
and dyeing temperature were varied accordingly.
Twenty-eight dye baths, considering a group of seven
for each variable, were prepared.
Seven dye baths were prepared, each containing
0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5% dye on the basis of
weight of cotton fabric and the dyeing was carried out
by usual method for reactive dye. Using grey scale the
colour was assessed and the percentage of dye which
gives the cotton fabric even and maximum shade was
selected for dyeing.
Another group of seven dye baths each containing
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14% sodium sulfate as an
electrolyte was prepared. The fabrics were then dyed
with selected dye concentration and the concentration
of electrolyte showing the maximum dye absorption
was selected.
Seven dye baths, each containing the optimum dye
and electrolyte concentrations were prepared and the
fabrics were dyed for varying duration, such as 10,
20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 min. The dyeing time
showing the maximum dye absorption was selected.
Seven dye baths, each containing the optimum
concentrations of dye and electrolyte were prepared
and the fabrics were dyed for the selected duration by
varying the temperature (20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and
800C). The temperature showing the maximum dye
absorption was selected. The above selected
conditions were considered as the optimum dyeing
conditions for dyeing of cotton fabric.
The cotton fabric was dyed separately with 2.5%
Reactive Yellow RL and 3% Reactive Red 6B
containing Glauber’s salt (60 g/L), soda ash (15 g/L),
leveling agent and Felosen NOF (1 g/L) at 60°C for
60 min, maintaining the pH at 11 and fabric-to-liquor
ratio at 1:10. The dyed fabric was then dried in a
tumble dryer.
59
2.3 Physico-chemical Tests
2.3.1 Pilling of Cotton Fabric
An area of 5 × 5 cm with two holes line at a
required distance was marked on fabric. Then the
lines were drawn by stitching and the fabric was put
around the rubber tube. The rotation of the samples at
7000, 9000 and 11000 cycles was completed in an
equipment called Orbitor (SI No. 516/02/1112),
manufactured by James H. Heal and Company,
Halifax, England. After completing the rotation, the
samples were taken out from the Orbitor. Pilling was
performed when the ginning was carried out
carelessly, some of the hairs were torn or ruptured and
little knots of short fibres were formed on the cotton.6
These create neps in the fabric. Ginning was a process
in which the seeds were fed into a hopper, from the
bottom of which they were conveyed by spirally
grooved, leather-covered rollers having two knives
known as doctors. These were set in such a way that
they cut off fibres of a reasonable length, but leave
behind on the seed the very short fibres which are of
no use for spinning.
2.3.2 Dimensional Stability of Cotton Fabric to Washing
The specimen of the size 30×30 cm was cut and
marked. Before washing, the specimen was measured
with scale, taking care to avoid distortion and the
readings were recorded as the original dimension (A)
in mm. Then it was washed with 3 g/L detergent
solution and again the readings were recorded as the
dimension after laundering (B) in mm. The % of
dimensional change was calculated using the
following formula6:
% Dimensional change = [(B-A)/A] × 100
2.3.3 Colour Fastness Test
Colour fastness to dry cleaning, perspiration, acid,
alkali, light, salty water, washing and chlorinated
water of dyed fabric was assessed using the grey
scale.
2.3.3.1 Fastness to Dry Cleaning
The specimens (10 × 5 cm) were cut and sewed with
multi-fibre fabric. By sewing three sides of a undyed
cotton, twill cloth with inside dimensions 10 × 10 cm
was prepared. Each specimen and 12 steel dics were
placed inside the bag and the bag was closed by
sewing. Flask was partially filled with
perchloroethylene and 10 mL detergent, stirred, and
then more perchloroethylene was added until the total
60 INDIAN J. FIBRE TEXT. RES., MARCH 2008
volume becomes equal to 1000 mL. The bag
containing the specimen and the steel discs was put in
the steel containers containing standard 500 mL and
200 mL perchloroethylene separately. The bag was
then agitated in a wash wheel for 30 min in
perchloroethylene at 30°C. The specimen was then
removed, dried and then assessed for colour change.15
2.3.3.2 Fastness to Perspiration
Specimens of the size 10 × 4 cm were cut. The
multi-fibre adjacent fabric of the size equal to the test
specimens was attached by sewing specimens along
one of the shorter sides with the multi-fibre fabric to
prepare composite test specimens.
For acid perspiration test, the solution containing
the following ingredients was prepared:
l-Histidine mono-hydrochloride : 0.5g
mono-hydrate(C6H9O2N3HCl.H2O)
Sodium chloride (NaCl) : 5.0g
Disodiumhydrogen orthophosphate : 2.2g
(Na2HPO4.2H2O)
Distilled water : 1000 mL
pH (adjusted by NaOH) : 5.5
The composite test specimen was wetted in the
above-mentioned acid perspiration test solution at
room temperature for 30 min, maintaining the fabric-
to-liquor ratio at 1:50. Excess solution was poured off
and this composite test specimen was placed between
two glass plates under a pressure of 5 kg and then
heated in an oven for 4 h at 37 ± 2°C. The specimen
was then removed and dried in open air. The contrast
between the treated and the untreated samples was
compared with the grey scale and staining of colour
on a adjacent multi-fibre fabric with the staining grey
scale.16
2.3.3.3 Fastness to Alkalis and Acids
The specimen (10 × 4 cm) was spotted at room
temperature with the acids and alkalies by a glass rod;
a spot of the diameter ~20 mm was formed. Then the
specimen was dried at room temperature without
rinsing. The contrast between the treated and the
untreated samples was compared with the grey
scale.17,18 Acid and alkali spottings were assessed
using the solutions, containing 300 g/L glacial acetic
acid, 50 g/L sulfuric acid, 100 g/L tartaric acid,
100 g/L sodium carbonate, 50 g/L sodium hydroxide,
and 10% ammonia solution.
2.3.3.4 Fastness to Light
The dyed cotton fabric was exposed separately for
12, 24, 36 and 72h at 40°C under artificial light
source (Daylight B01, James H. Heal and Company,
Hamifax, England), equipped with xenon arc and
mercury-tungsten florescent, whose wave length was
similar to that of sunlight. It has light fastness grades
from 1 to 8. The change was compared with the
original specimen and assessed by blue light fastness
scale.6
2.3.3.5 Fastness to Washing
The fabric (10 × 4 cm) was sewed along all four
edges with the same size of multi-fibre fabric. The
composite specimen was washed in a washcator
(washing vessel) at 50, 70 and 90° C for 30 min using
the detergent solution (5 g/L) with 10 steel ball,
maintaining the fabric-to-liquor ratio at 1:50. The
change in colour of the specimen and the staining of
the adjacent fabric were assessed by grey scale.6
2.3.3.6 Fastness to Chlorinated Water
The separate specimens (each 10 × 4 cm) were put
into steel containers and then sodium hypochlorite
solution containing 100, 50 and 20 mg of active
chlorine was added at 7.5 pH and 1:100 fabric-to-
liquor ratio. In each test, the closed container was put
into the mechanical device (Gyrowash) and agitated at
27 ± 2°C for 1 h in dark. Then the specimen was
removed, squeezed and air dried at room temperature.
The change in colour of the specimen was assessed
with the grey scale.19
2.3.3.7 Fastness to Salty Water
Two identical specimens of the size 10 × 4 cm were
cut and the multi-fibre adjacent fabric of the size
equal to the test specimens was attached by sewing.
The composite test specimen was immersed in sodium
chloride solution containing 30 g NaCl & 5 g MgCl2
in 1L of distilled water. Then the test specimen was
placed between two glass plates under a pressure of
5 kg and was heated in an oven for 4 h at 37 ± 2°C.
The specimen was then removed and dried in open
air. The contrast between the treated and the untreated
samples was compared with the grey scale.20
3 Results and Discussion
3.1 Effect of Dye Concentration
The effect of dye content on percentage of dye
exhaustion is shown in Fig. 1. It is observed that the
dye absorption by cotton fabric decreases with the
increase in dye concentration in the dye bath. This
may be explained by the fact that the presence of
more dye ions hinders the absorption of dye by the
 ALAM et al.: DYEING OF COTTON FABRICS WITH REACTIVE DYES & THEIR PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES 61

100 80

70
80

Dye Exhaustion, %
Dye Exhaustion, %

60

60
50

40 40

30
20
20
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
0
Electrolyte content, %
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Dye content, %
Fig. 2—Electrolyte content vs dye exhaustion for dyeing of
bleached cotton fabric with (▲) 2.5% Reactive Yellow RL and
Fig. 1—Dye content vs dye exhaustion for dyeing of bleached (■) 3% Reactive Red 6B for 50 min at 50°C
cotton fabric with (▲) Reactive Yellow RL and (■) Reactive Red
6B using 2% electrolyte for 50 min at 50°C 70

fabric, whereas rare ions favour it. It is found that 65

with the increase in dye concentration, the absolute
Dye Exhaustion, %

60
quantity of the absorbed dye increases while the
relative quantity diminishes.5 The dye exhaustion 55

percentage of Reactive Yellow RL is found to be 50

higher than that of Reactive Red 6B due to higher 45
affinity of the dye towards fabric. Bright and even
shades are obtained when cotton fabric is dyed with 40

3% Reactive Red 6B and 2.5% Reactive Yellow RL 35

separately. Above or below this percentage of dye, 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
dull and uneven shades are obtained. Time, min

3.2 Effect of Electrolyte Concentration
Figure 2 shows that the addition of electrolyte to
the dye liquor of anionic dye increases the uptake of
dye by the fabric. The electrolyte used in dyeing
dissociates completely in aqueous dye liquor. For
entering into the fabric, the charge on surface
(negative in fabric) will have to be neutralized since
both anionic dyes and fabric have the same charge.
Sodium ion (Na+) coming from sodium sulphate is
cationic and in the dye liquor is attracted by the
negatively charged fabric. By bonding, the sodium
cations neutralize the anionic surface charge of the
fabric. Now the neutralized fabric can attract the
organic dye molecules which have a greater affinity
for the fabric than the aqueous solution.21
It is observed that the bright and even shades are
produced when cotton fabric is dyed with 10%
electrolyte for both the dyes. Above or below this
percentage of electrolyte, dull and uneven shades are
obtained.
Fig. 3—Dyeing time vs dye exhaustion for dyeing of bleached
cotton fabric with (▲) 2.5% Reactive Yellow RL and (■) 3%
Reactive Red 6B using 10% electrolyte at 50°C
3.3 Effect of Dyeing Time
Figure 3 shows that the dye absorption by cotton
fabric increases linearly with the increase in dyeing
time, and it reaches maximum for 60 min of dyeing
time in both cases. The dye absorption then remains
nearly the same on further increase in dyeing time.
The possible reason of such behaviour is that when
cellulosic fabric is immersed in a dye solution, it
absorbs dye till the equilibrium is reached. Under any
temperature and electrolyte concentration, the
equilibrium is reached when each fabric is evenly
dyed throughout its cross-section, and even after the
lapse of a long period of time, no further exchange of
dye in the fabric and in the solution takes place.21
From the experiment, it is observed that the bright and
even shades are produced when cotton fabric is dyed
for 60 min using both the dyes.
62 INDIAN J. FIBRE TEXT. RES., MARCH 2008

3.4 Effect of Temperature reactive dyes are capable of combining with hydroxyl
Figure 4 shows that the dye absorption by cotton groups of cellulose via covalent bond formations
fabric increases linearly with the increase in which varies from dye to dye, depending upon the
temperature and it reaches maximum when cotton reactivity. The attachment of dye molecules to the
fabric is dyed with Reactive Yellow RL and Reactive cellulosic chain is found to be through covalent
Red 6B at 60°C. Dye exists in solution as an bonding as no dye molecule strips out from the dyed
aggregate of various sizes. As small aggregates are sample as indicated in the following proposed
removed from solution by the fabric, the larger reaction:
aggregates break down to maintain an over all
dynamic equilibrium of dye solution. When the Cell-OH + X-Dye Cell-O-Dye + HX
temperature of the solution increases, the thermal Another consideration is that the cellulosic fibres,
energy coming from outside impedes aggregation and which combine with dyes mainly by hydrogen
therefore, the amount of the non-aggregated dye bonding as well as Van der Walls forces, do not have
particles in the solution increases. Hence, the increase any identifiable ‘dye sites’. As a result, there is
in temperature and consequently the increase in the usually no specific limit to the amount of dyes which
kinetic energy of the molecule tend to break-up large the fibre can absorb, i.e. the fibre does not become
aggregates into smaller units.5,21 The increase in dye saturated with dye molecules.
diffusion coefficients at higher temperature due to the
3.6 Pilling of Cotton Fabric
greater kinetic energy acquired by the dye molecules
and the increase in the frequency and amplitude of The pilling of dyed cotton fabric has been studied
thermal oscillation in the separate sections of the at 7000, 9000 and 11000 cycles and the results are
macromolecule chain, provoke an increase in the given in Table 1. It is observed that the degree of
number of the pores in the fabric structure and their pilling increases with the increase in revolution.
diameter. Thus, the small dye particles penetrate into Immature dyed fibres also show pilling.6
the fabric pores at high temperature; when the dye 3.7 Dimensional Stability of Cotton Fabric to Wash
bath cools, the pore of the fabric contracts, thus fastly The dimensional stability to wash of cotton fabrics
retaining5 the dye particles. The bright and even for both the dyes is calculated using the following
shades are produced at 60°C dyeing temperature. relationships:
Final length - Original length
3.5 Dye-fibre Reaction Mechanism
Dimensional (after wash) (before wash)
Cotton fabric contains a hydroxyl group (-OH) in stability (%) = × 100
Original length
the cellulose chain. When the fabric is subjected to (before wash)
dyeing with reactive dyes of different classes by
solution process, it shows good dyeability. The For Reactive Yellow RL
29.0 − 30
Dimensional stability (%) = ×100 = − 0.30
70 30
65
For Reactive Red 6B
29.9 − 30
Dye Exhaustion, %

60
Dimensional stability (%) = ×100 = −0.33
55 30
50 The (–) sign indicates shrinkage and (+) sign
45 stretching.
40 Table 1—Pilling of cotton fabric
35
Revolution Reactive Red 6B Reactive Yellow RL
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
cycles Pilling Degree of Pilling Degree of
Temperature, ºC grade pilling grade pilling

Fig. 4—Dyeing temperature vs dye exhaustion for dyeing of 7000 5 Low 5 Low
bleached cotton fabric with (▲) 2.5% Reactive Yellow RL and 9000 5-4 Medium 5-4 Medium
(■) 3% Reactive Red 6B using 10% electrolyte for 60 min 11000 4 High 4 High
 ALAM et al.: DYEING OF COTTON FABRICS WITH REACTIVE DYES & THEIR PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES 63

Usually, the cotton fabric shrinks and the cotton Table 2—Colour fastness of cotton fabric to alkali
threads face a great tension during fabric and acid spotting
manufacturing. When cotton fabric is wetted in water Reactive Red 6B Reactive Yellow RL
its fibres want to be relaxed and rest to come back Alkali/Acid
Grade Colour Grade Colour
their original position. It is evident that the cotton
fabrics dyed with Reactive Yellow RL and Reactive Alkali spotting
Red 6B shrink to 0.30% and 0.33% respectively. The Sodium 4 Slightly 5 Bright
carbonate light red yellow
cotton fabric dyed with Reactive Yellow RL exhibits Ammonia 4 Slightly 5 Bright
better results than the fabric dyed with Reactive Red solution light red yellow
6B due to higher fixation ability.22 Sodium 3 Slightly 4 Slightly
hydroxide fade red light
yellow
3.8 Colour Fastness of Cotton Fabric
Unspotted 5 Bright red 5 Bright
3.8.1 Fastness to Alkali Spotting
yellow
Table 2 shows that the colour fastness of dyed
cotton fabric to spotting with alkalies, such as Na2CO3 Acid spotting
and NH4OH, gives satisfactory results. But NaOH Sulfuric acid 3 Slightly 4-3 Light
gives unsatisfactory results in most cases, NaOH is fade red yellow
Acetic acid 4-3 Light red 5-4 Yellow
stronger than Na2CO3 and NH4OH. Tartaric acid 4-3 Light red 5-4 Yellow

3.8.2 Fastness to Acid Spotting

Cotton fabric is not resistant to acids and produces
hydrocellulose on acid hydrolysis. This is due to the
cleavage of chains by hydrolysis. Acid hydrolysis
lowers the tensile strength of the fabric and
breakdown the formation of covalent bonds between
the fabric and the dyes. It is evident from Table 2 that
the colour fastness of dyed cotton fabric to spotting
with acids, i.e. in presence of acetic acid and tartaric
acid, is excellent but with sulfuric acid the colour
fastness of dyed cotton fabric is not at all satisfactory.
Hence, cotton fabrics are restricted to be used in
presence of sulfuric acid medium.
3.8.3 Fastness to Chlorinated Water
The colour fastness of dyed cotton fabric has been
studied at 100, 50, 20 mg/L chlorine content and the
results are shown in the Table 3. It is observed that
the colour fastness of cotton fabric dyed with
Reactive Yellow RL to chlorinated water is better
than that of Reactive Red 6B. The colour fastness of
cotton fabric to chlorinated water decreases with the
increase in chlorine concentration.
3.8.4 Fastness to Exposure in Light
Table 3 shows that the colour fastness of cotton
fabric to exposure under light decreases with the
increase in exposure time. It is also found that the
colour fastness of cotton fabric dyed with Reactive
Yellow RL is better than that of the fabric dyed with
Reactive Red 6B. The fastness of a dyed fabric
depends upon the dye-fibre interaction and the
intensity of light. An intensive oxidation of the fibre
occurs due to the capacity of the dye molecule,
excited by the light. This oxidation reaction rapidly
occurs at the earlier time of light exposure and hence
the colour of the dyed fibre abruptly changes. But
when the reaction is completed, change in colour does
not occur.
3.8.5 Fastness to Washing
The colour fastness of dyed cotton fabric has also
been studied at 50, 70 and 90°C temperature in
detergent solution and the results are given in the
Table 3. The wash fastness of cotton fabric with both
the dyes is found to be good. However, it is better for
Reactive Yellow RL than that for Reactive Red 6B.
The wash fastness depends upon the physical and
chemical properties of the fabric, the class of the dyes,
their forces of interaction and their interaction with
soap solution. It is evident that the wash fastness
decreases with the increase in temperature. It seems
that at higher temperature the dissolution of the dye
particles from fibre surface takes place and hence
more dye particles are easily washed off the fabric.5
3.8.6 Fastness to Perspiration
Perspiration is slightly acidic. Hydrocellulose is
produced by the action of dilute acids due to the
cleavage of chains by hydrolysis. Hydrolysis lowers
the tensile strength of the fabric and breakdown the
formation of covalent bonds between the fabric and
the Reactive dyes. It is observed from the Table 3 that
64 INDIAN J. FIBRE TEXT. RES., MARCH 2008

Table 3—Colour fastness of cotton fabric

Parameter Reactive Red 6B Reactive Yellow RL

Grade Colour Grade Colour

Fastness to chlorinated water

Chlorinated water, mg/L
100 3-2 Light fade red 3-4 Light yellow
50 4 Slightly light red 5-4 Yellow
20 5-4 Red 5 Bright yellow

Fastness to light
Exposure time, h
12 7-6 Slightly light bright red 8-7 Bright yellow
24 6-5 Light bright red 7-6 Yellow
36 5-4 Light red 5 Slightly light yellow
72 4 Light fade red 5-4 Light yellow

Fastness to washing
Washing temp., °C
50 5 Bright red 5 Bright yellow
70 5-4 Red 5 Bright yellow
90 4 Slightly light red 5-4 Yellow

Fastness to perspiration (acid)

Shade 4-3 Light red 5-4 Yellow
Staining 4 Slightly light red 4 Slightly light yellow

Fastness to salty water

In shade 4-3 Light red 5-4 Yellow
In multi-fibre fabric 3 Slightly fade red 4-3 Light yellow

Fastness to dry cleaning

In shade 5-4 Red 5 Bright yellow
In staining 4 Slightly light red 5-4 Yellow

the colour fastness of dyed cotton
perspiration is fair. The cotton fabric
Reactive Yellow RL exhibits better
compared to Reactive Red 6B due to
affinity to cotton fabric.
3.8.7 Fastness to Salty Water
Solution of acid salt produces hydrocellulose. A
similar effect is also produced by such neutral salts,
such as aluminium chloride, magnesium chloride and
sodium chloride, which undergo hydrolysis on
heating. Cellulose swells in concentrated solutions of
some neutral salts and on gradually heating first
becomes jelly-like and then passes into solution.
Table 3 shows that the colour fastness of cotton fabric
to sea water is fair in shade but is unfair in multi-fibre
fabric. The Reactive Yellow RL is found to be more
resistant than Reactive Red 6B due to its higher
fixation ability to fabric.
3.8.8 Fastness to Dry Cleaning
When detergent is dissolved in perchloroethylene
(organic solvent), the polar heads remain in the inner
fabric to core of the micelles and their hydrophobic groups
dyed with orients towards the solvent (perchloroethylene). Dirt,
results as an oily or greasy substance, is pegged into
its higher hydrocarbon tails and then dissolved by the
mechanical action of agitation. Water is added to the
dry cleaning solvent and then solubilized into the
interior of these micelles. Some of this water in the
interior is bound strongly to the polar heads of the
surfactants in the interior of the micelles and some
remain essentially free water. The free water dissolves
water-soluble soil. In the absence of any free water in
the solvent, water-soluble soil is not removed to any
significant extent. The water-soluble soil appears to
be removed from fabric by a process involving
hydration of soil followed by solubilization.
Perchloroethylene has no effect on swelling of the
fabric and therefore the shape of the fabric remains
unchanged. It is found that the Reactive Yellow RL
exhibits better results than Reactive Red 6B (Table 3).
4 Conclusions
Even and uniform shades are obtained when cotton
fabric is dyed with 2.5% Reactive Yellow RL and
 ALAM et al.: DYEING OF COTTON FABRICS WITH REACTIVE DYES & THEIR PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
3.0% Reactive Red 6B in presence of 10% Glauber’s
salt for 60 min at 60°C. There is no significant
difference in the dyeing conditions for the dyes. Only
the difference is in the dye concentration. In case of
colour fastness and other physico-chemical tests, both
the dyes give satisfactory results. However, the
Reactive Yellow RL shows better results in most
cases. The cotton fabric dyed with both dyes is very
sensitive to strong acids and alkali. So, the users are
highly recommended to keep away the cotton fabric
from strong acids and alkalies.
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16 International Standard WASO 105 E04: 1994.
17 International Standard WASO 105 E06: 1989.
18 International Standard WASO 105 E05: 1989.
19 International Standard WASO 105 E03: 1994.
20 International Standard WASO 105 E02: 1994.
21 Cocket S R & Hilton K A, Dyeing of Cellulosic Fibre and
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