Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate increasing the neutral substantivity of anionic dyes for cationic-modified cotton fabric treatied with cationic agent. In the present study 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride for reactive cationic agent was produced by reaction of epichlorohydrine with trimethylamine hydrochloride. 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride was converted in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide into glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride. By treating with this epoxy reagent the hydroxyl groups of cotton fabric was modified to trimethylammonium group through ether linkage. The introduction of new cationic sites into cotton fabric by pretreating with cationic agent improves the substantivity of anionic dyes with the cotton in dyebath. Dyeablity of the modified cotton fabric for direct and reactive dyes was much improved in a non-electrolytic or a little electrolytic dyebath and was proportional to the concentration of cationic agent.