Adsorption and fixation of a reactive dye on cotton in non-aqueous systems

The dyeability of a reactive dye, CI Reactive Red 2, on cotton in non-aqueous media has been investigated using a reverse-micellar solution. Reverse micelles comprising Aerosol-OT/iso-octane were taken as a model for dyeing in non-aqueous systems. The reactive dye was satisfactorily solubilised in the interior of the reverse micelle. Exhaustion of the reactive dye on cotton from the reverse micellar solution was excellent even in the absence of a dyeing auxiliary. Effective fixation was achieved by the use of a separate reverse-micellar solution containing a suitable alkali. It has also been shown that fixation can be successfully achieved using an alternative thermal process without the need for alkali.