ARS | Publication request: POLYAMIDE-EPICHLOROHYDRIN RESINS FOR UNION DYEING WOOL/COTTON BLENDED FABRICS

Submitted to: American Association Of Textile Chemists And Colorists Review
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 20, 2002
Publication Date: September 20, 2003
Citation: CARDAMONE, J.M., STUHRKE, D., RIEHLE, R.J. POLYAMIDE-EPICHLOROHYDRIN RESINS FOR UNION DYEING WOOL/COTTON BLENDED FABRICS. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TEXTILE CHEMISTS AND COLORISTS REVIEW. 2003. P. 28-32.

Interpretive Summary: Wool and cotton blended fabrics are difficult to dye because wool and cotton require different dye classes and dyeing conditions. Under a cooperative agreement with a manufacturer of paper resins, we have developed a single dye, single dyebath procedure utilizing pretreatment with a resin that imparts dyeability to the cotton component so that it will dye like the wool component with a wool dye. Compared to other cotton-modification procedures developed by USDA ERRC for this purpose, this system, when applied at a low level of 1.25% on the weight of the pretreatment bath, proved effective, efficient, and superior for achieving uniformly dyed (union-dyed) fabrics with high color strength and good wet fastness to rubbing. This dyeing procedure could lead to increased marketability of wool. It can help provide new textile markets of increased value thereby leading to a competitive market edge for wool.

Technical Abstract: Cationic amine polyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resins were applied as pretreatments to all-wool, all-cotton, and blends of wool/cotton for subsequent one-step union dyeing with acid dyes following the conventional wool dyeing process. Compared to cationic biguanide and dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea/alkyl amine pretreatments, which are known to be effective for one-step union dyeing of wool/cotton blends when applied at levels of 2% to 10% on weight of bath (owb), PAE solutions were equally as effective when applied at 1.25% owb for 30 minutes at 20°C. PAE technology provides an efficient alternative to the conventional two-step union dyeing procedure relying upon one or two dyes to achieve union shades. PAE technology could lead to the improved marketability of wool/cotton blends.