Dyeing Properties of Lac Dyes for Wool, Silk and Nylon
The dyeing properties of lac dyes for wool, silk and nylon fibers were investigated, and compared in terms of dependence of dye uptake on pH, dyeing rates, and building-up performance as well as color hue and color fastness of dyed fabrics. For all the three fibers, the uptake of lac dyes was greatly influenced by pH, indicating that the electrostatic interaction between lac dyes and fibers predominantly contributes to lac adsorption. The maximum adsorption wavelength of dyed fabrics shifted to a higher value with increasing application pH, indicating the existence of bathochromic effect. Lac dyes showed the quickest initial uptake rate for silk, the slowest rate for wool. The capacity of lac uptake by three fibers was in the following order: wool > silk > nylon, this being in accord with the quantity of amino groups in these fibers. Dyed wool exhibited the best color fastness.