New methods of obtaining patterned dyeings on cellulosic fibres with anionic dyes: photo-modification using a methacryloyl quaternary ammonium compound

Cotton fabric was modified through the introduction of quaternary groups by UV irradiation of a methacryloyl compound. The modified substrate displayed enhanced dyeability towards anionic dyes because of the presence of the introduced quaternary groups; zeta-potential measurements confirmed the cationicity of the modified fabric. The colour yield of the dyeings increased with increasing energy of irradiation and also varied with the amount of quaternary compound adsorbed on the substrate. The results clearly show that the dyeability of the cellulosic fibre can be controlled through the UV induced modification and, therefore, that patterned dyeing effects could be achieved through the exhaustion dyeing of fabric which has been exposed to patterned photomodification.