SURFACE FUNCTIONALIZATION OF LINEN FIBER AND ITS DYE-FASTNESS ASSESSMENT USING (4-[(E)-(4-AMINO-2-HYDROXYPHENYL) DIAZENYL] BENZENE- 1-SULPHONIC ACID AND 4-[(E)-(4-{(Z)-[4-(DIMETHYLAMINO) PHENYL] DIAZENYL}-2-HYDROXYPHENYL) DIAZENYL] BENZENE-1-SULPHONIC ACI

Abstract

Textile fibres find application in many fields, such as; Apparel manufacturing, Medical, Agriculture, Packaging, Civil construction, Shipping. Some of these fibres lack special characteristics required for some specific application without any additional treatment. Large scale production of linen fibre has been limited by the tendency of the fibre to absorb water, degradation by micro-organisms and sunlight. These factors ultimately lower the strength and the service life of the fibre. Hence, the need to improve the hydrophobicity of natural linen fibre before application. Poor dye-fibre interaction has been an area of constant interest in the textile industry. This has been expressed by bleeding, crocking, bleaching of fabric resulting to fading of the fabric. These shortcomings are sometimes due to poor treatment, manufacturing processes and customer handling. Natural linen fiber is an eco-friendly ligno-cellulosic fiber known for its strength, resistance to degradation, hydrophobicity when pointedly modified. In this research, chemical modification of scoured and bleached linen fibre by Acetylation, Methylation and Benzoylation was carried out. The chemically modified fibres were evaluated by techniques such as SEM and FTIR spectroscopy. The mechanical property (strength) was determined after each modification. The result obtained revealed an absorption band at 3432 cm-1 - 3450 cm-1 confirming the OH group in the linen fibre. The band at 704 cm-1 indicated the presence of a benzene ring from benzoyl chloride. The chemical modification changed the morphology of the linen fibre for improved dye–fibre interaction. The chemically modified species were dyed and further subjected to a dye fastness test. The results revealed at 4.33a ± 0.69, 5.00a ± 0.00 and 4.67a ± 0.58 as against3.00a±1.00, 3.33a±0.58 and 2.67a±0.58 for light fastness, wash fastness and rub fastness respectively when subjected to ANOVA analysis. In conclusion, benzoylated linen fibre was observed to most improved dye-fibre interaction.