Application of chitosan/nonionic surfactant mixture in reactive dyes for dyeing wool fabrics

The feasibility of wool fabrics pretreated with a chitosan/nonionic surfactant mixture and dyed with reactive dyes was studied. The results showed that the presence of the chitosan/surfactant improved the application to wool, which greatly enhanced the color strength when dyed at 50 degreesC but little change was observed when dyed at 80 degreesC. The higher the concentration of chitosan/surfactant added, the greater was the color strength of the dyed wool fabrics. The amounts found to be optimum for dyeing were 0.5% chitosan and 1.0% surfactant. The washing fastness of the dyed wool fabrics was in the range of grades 4-5, the dry rubbing fastness was in the range of grades 4-5, and the wet rubbing fastness was in the range of grades 3-4. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.