Modification of cotton with nicotinoyl thioglycollate to improve its dyeability

Nicotinoyl thioglycollate (NTG) was synthesised and applied to cotton, producing a cellulosic fibre containing tertiary amine residues. The reactivity of NTG towards cotton was explored, so as to achieve an optimum NTG covalent reaction with the cellulose. The dyeability of the chemically modified cellulose with C.I. Reactive Red 120, a low reactivity, bi-functional monochlorotriazine (MCT) dye, in the absence of any electrolyte, was considered with regard to colour yield, fixation and exhaustion. The mechanistic implications and the quality of dyeings produced are discussed. Finally, a brief study into the dyeability of the modified cellulose with higher reactivity dyes and other nonreactive, anionic dyes is presented. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.