Dyeing of jute and jute/cotton blend fabrics with 2:1 pre-metallised dyes

Metal complex dyes are renowned for their excellent light fastness properties on dyed polyamide fibres. Utilisation of pre-metallised dyes to stabilise dye shades on jute and jute/cotton blends was attempted by means of a pretreatment with a commercial product, Polymer PL. The modified cellulosic fabrics exhibit significantly improved dyeability and fastness properties. As a result, cellulosic fibres can be successfully dyed with pre-metallised dyes and cellulosic blends may be dyed with pre-metallised dyes in a one-bath procedure. The light fastness ratings achieved on the modified and dyed jute fabrics were as high as 6.