Deodorant properties of wool fabrics dyed with acid mordant dyes and a copper salt

Wool fabrics with a deodorant function are prepared by acid mordant dyeing with copper(II) nitrate. The effects of pre- and after-mordanting are examined for C.I. Mordant Yellow 3 and C.I. Mordant Red 17. Carboxylate groups in the wool fibers and the dyes work to fix copper ion with the deodorant ability against mercaptan. The elimination of mercaptan from the air by the mordant dyed fabrics is measured in a Teddler bag. Fabrics untreated or dyed without mordanting show no deodorant ability, but those pre-mordanted or pre- and after-mordanted show considerable deodorant ability. By controlling the pH of the dyebath to about 4, dye and copper ion uptake of the fabric is optimized and the deodorant ability is also optimum.