Modification and Dyeing Properties of Alginate Fibers Based on Atmospheric Plasma Technology

The difficulties associated with dyeing alginate fibers by conventional dyeing processes have been a major limitation hindering the large-scale application of alginate fibers in the textile industry. The main aim of this study is to use plasma equipment for free radical graft polymerization of methacryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride (DMC) to achieve a better dyeing effect on cationically modified alginate fibers by direct dyeing using a saltless dyeing process. The treated alginate fibers were dyed by direct dyes and characterized by SEM, FTIR-ATR, XPS, K / S value determination and single-fiber breaking strength analysis. The results show that the DMC was successfully grafted onto the alginate fibers, the modified alginate fibers had good dyeing ability with high K / S values; and the alginate fibers maintained their breaking strength of 2.33 cN/dtex after dyeing, corresponding to a decrease of only 15.5 % (red), 1.3 % (yellow), and 4.8 % (blue) compared to that of the original fiber. The dyed alginate fibers also showed good washing fastness, which was better than grade 4. All the results indicate that upon subjection to atmospheric plasma, DMC was efficiently embedded into the alginate fibers, making the fiber cationic and effectively overcoming the charge repulsion between the fiber and the dye under salt-free conditions. This study may provide a valuable method for the alginate fiber dyeing industry.