Study of Crystal Violet Hueing Dye Deposition on Fabrics During Home Laundry

The influence of hueing dye on the fabric b* value and CIE whiteness during home laundry was investigated using crystal violet dye to study the accumulation mechanism on fabric samples. Fabrics treated with the crystal violet dye had a lower b* value and a higher CIE whiteness. The dye accumulation was much higher on nylon or nylon/lycra blends than on cotton and polyester fabrics. The fabric surface charge and surface energy were also studied, and the dye-fiber interaction was investigated based on fiber and dye molecular structure. The study indicates: (1) the electrostatic adsorption is the main contributor to the deposition and accumulation of hueing dyes on fabrics; (2) fabric surface energy may play an important role in the dye-fiber interaction. The more hydrophobic the fiber surface, the less dye accumulates on the fabric during home laundry.