Effect of TiO₂nanoparticle on light fastness and degradation of dyed fabric with direct dye

Abstract

The photocatalytic degradation of various dye solutions has been studied using nanoTiO₂ (NTO) as a catalyst. The effect of NTO on the light fastness of dyed cotton fabric has been studied using two different dyes, namely Direct Blue 71 and Direct Red 31 with high and low light fastness respectively. After dyeing, the fabric is coated with NTO using a dip-pad–dry-cure process. The coated fabrics are then exposed to UV light for different periods of time. The results indicate that the coated cotton fabrics show a significant photo-oxidative activity under UV light. The color change of cotton fabric dyed with Direct Blue 71 with high light fastness is found less than that of the sample dyed with Direct red 31 with low light fastness.