Efficient cationization strategy for cotton fabric with excellent utilization of chemical reagent

Abstract

Cationic modification of cotton fabrics stands as a promising strategy for achieving sustainable production with superior dyeing performance. However, the low utilization of chemical reagents and poor production efficiency in the cationization process trigger its multiple environmental pollution in the late-stage dyeing industry. Herein, we develop an efficient, clean and low-cost cationic modification method of cotton fabrics, which could greatly reduce both the chemical usage (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride ((CHPTAC) and NaOH) and overall treatment costs compared to the conventional approaches. The modification is designed to achieve an efficient and competitive cationization effect through a facile one-bath pad-bake process. Under the pressure of the rolls, CHPTAC with low molecular weight diffuses rapidly and flexibly, ensuring even distribution within the fiber for comprehensive cationization. Notably, the as-prepared cationic cotton exhibits higher color depth with only half the dye utilization in traditional methods. Implementing the proposed one-bath pad-bake cationic process results in reductions of 8.3%, 40% and 50% in CHPTAC, NaOH and water usage, respectively, while a 96% decrease in processing time compared to conventional exhaust method. This novel and efficient approach holds great promise to be widely used in practical application of cationic modification in textile and coloration industry.