Improving the light fastness of dyed nylon fabrics using nickel arylsulphonates

Various nickel arylsulphonates were synthesised and their protecting effects on the photofading of CI Basic Violet 3, CI Acid Red 94, CI Acid Red 87 and CI Acid Blue 74 examined on nylon fabric. The rates of photofading of the dyes were remarkably suppressed in the presence of nickel salts, while the addition of ultraviolet absorbers and conventional stabilisers afforded little retardation of the rate of fading. The antimicrobial activity against two species bacteria of nickel salts was also examined. This aftertreatment technique was shown to be safe for the environment and human health.