Sulphur dyeing using non-sulphide reducing agents

Abstract

Cotton hanks were dyed with three different sulphur dyes using non-sulphide reducing agents such as glucose, fructose, invert sugar and molasses. The alkalies employed for reduction were sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide. Invert sugar as a reducing agent and sodium carbonate as alkali proved to be better as this combination gave results comparable to those obtained with the conventional sodium sulphide dyeing with respect to depth and tone of dyeing. The fastness properties were also found to be comparable.