Application of polycarboxylic acid sodium salt in the dyeing of cotton fabric with reactive dyes

In this study, the effects of polycarboxylic acid sodium salt on the dyeing of cotton with reactive dyes were evaluated by measuring and comparing the K/S values and dyeing fastnesses of the dyed cotton fabric samples. Results showed that the K/S value and dyeing fastness of cotton fabrics dyed with polycarboxylic acid sodium salt, substituting inorganic salts as exhausting agent were close to that of with sodium chloride when dip‐dyeing process was used. While, in pad‐dry dyeing, the K/S value of cotton fabric samples dyed with polyacid salts as exhausting agent was higher than that of with sodium sulfate, and the dyeing fastnesses of these samples were nearly the same. The dyeing mechanism of cotton fabric with reactive dye, using polycarboxylic acid sodium salt as exhausting agent was analyzed. The dyeing exhausting mechanism of reactive dye seems different when the inorganic salt and polycarboxylic acid sodium salt were used as exhausting agent in the dyeing of cotton fabric with reactive dye. The polycarboxylic acid sodium salt, as weak electrolyte, increased the dye‐uptake of reactive dye on cotton fabric not only by screening negative charges on cotton surface, but also by the effect of salting‐out or hydrophobic combination. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007