Improving light fastness of reactive dyed cotton fabric with antioxidant and UV absorbers

Abstract

<span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt" lang="EN-GB">Cotton fabrics have been dyed with C. I. Reactive Yellow 84, C. I. Reactive Red 22 and C. I. Reactive Blue 19 dyes and the effect of some commonly used antioxidants and UV absorbers is studied in order to improve light fastness property. The <span style="font-size:9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN" lang="EN-GB">antioxidants such as gallic acid, vitamin C and cafeic acid, and the UV absorbers such as 2-hydroxybenzophenone and phenyl salicylate have been applied on reactive dyed cotton fabric by exhaust method. <span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt" lang="EN-GB">Treated samples are then tested for fastness properties as per international standards. The results show no change in colour depth during after treatment. In all the cases, the use of UV absorbers or antioxidants improves the light fastness of dyed fabrics. The most effective light fastness improvement is found by the application of vitamin C.

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