The Influence of Hydrophobicity Factor on Wool Fibre Dyeing With Anionic Dye

Abstract

In this study two alkylphenolethoxylates with different ethoxylation degree c.a. EO 9 (Lanasan LT as NPE-1) and EO 40 (Disponil AA P43 as NPE-2) were selected with the purpose to evaluate the influence of hydrophobicity of nonionic surfactants on wool dyeing efficiency. Anionic C.I. Acid Orange 7 dye was used to carry out an experiment in dyeing of wool fibre at 30 °C or 60 °C temperature using wool fabric which was prepared for dyeing by extraction of the lipid materials soluble in chloroform and methanol mixture. The surfactant with a shorter hydrophilic chain (NPE-1) intensified the adsorption of the dye. This fact allowed to presume that the dye diffusion into wool fibre might be influenced by hydrophobic interaction between the surfactant and hydrophobic sites of wool fibre. The results of surfactants adsorption showed that the interaction of NPE-2 with the fibre was weak as compared to that of NPE-1. The results of the investigation suggest that the ethoxylated nonylphenol of a lower hydrophility index might interact with the active sites of wool fibre more intensively than that of a higher index of hydrophility.http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.17.3.596