Effect of fixing agents and their compositions on the colour fastness in reactive dyed cotton fabrics

The aim of this study is to investigate effects of different fixing agents and their compositions on colour fastness values of knitted cotton fabrics dyed with reactive dyestuff. In the thesis, 3 different coloured 100% cotton fabrics, mainly bordeux, black and turquouse, were used. Materials were treated with short and long chained quaternary ammonium salts, polyamine, polyamide, polyurethane, epichlorohydrin fixing agents. During application, 100% concentrated form of fixators and their mixtures (%50+%50) solutions were prepared. Fabrics were padded with 15 g/l solution at pH 5- 5,5 and pick up value was 85% for each. After the treatment, fabrics were dried at 140 oC for 2 minutes in tenter. Domestic and commercial laundering (ISO 105 C06), rubbing (ISO 105 X12), domestic and commercial laundering-oxidative bleach (ISO 105 CO9) fastness tests were done according to TSE test procedures for all fabrics. In addition to that cross-staining of fabrics were also tested. Test results were assessed according to both visual and instrumental methods. It was observed that the colour fastness values of domestic and commercial laundering were highly developed in all fabrics with polyamine based fixator and its mixtures. Color fastness values of bordeaux fabrics increased from 2-3 to 4. Untreated turquouse and black fabrics have a high fastness values so it wasn't observed any impact on the fabrics. The colour fastness of rubbing of the treated bordeaux and black fabrics obviously been improved with polyurethane and polyurethane/epichlorohydrin based fixators. The colour fastness value of rubbing of bordeux fabric increased from 2 to 4. Untreated turquouse fabric have a high fastness value so it wasn't observed any impact on the fabrics. It was observed that the colour fastness value of rubbing of black fabric improve from 2-3 to 4. Oxidative bleaching results were examined, it was observed that epichlorohydrin, polyamine, polyamide and polyurethane and their mixtures didn't have any effect on. Long and short chain quaternary ammonium compounds decrease avarage 1,5-2 unit. Oxidative bleaching results were examined, it was observed that all untreated fabrics had a high fastness value which between 4/4-5. It was observed that epichlorohydrin, polyamine, polyamide and polyurethane and their mixtures didn't have any effect on. Long and short chain quaternary ammonium compounds decreased fastness value avarage 1,5- 2 unit. Colour fastness of cross-staining values for untreated bordeaux, turquouse and black fabrics was respectively 1-2, 2 and 3. It was observed that polyamine based fixator and its mixtures were improved color fastness to 4- 4/5. Epichlorohydrin, polyamide and polyurethane based fixators didn't have an impact on the fabrics.