APPLICATION OF A CHITOSAN NONIONIC SURFACTANT MIXTURE TO WOOL ASSESSED BY DYEING WITH A REACTIVE DYE/

Chitosan application to wool is known to be associated with problems s uch as its weak binding and uneven distribution. In an attempt to over come such problems, chitosan was applied from a mixture with a nonioni c surfactant. A weak time interaction was observed between chitosan an d the surfactant over time, resulting in changes in the conformation o f chitosan in solution, which was confirmed by viscosity measurements. The presence of chitosan/surfactant association improved the applicat ion to wool, which was assessed by dyeing the treated wool with a reac tive dye at 60 degrees C. Since this technique offers the possibility of producing deeper and more vivid colours without increasing the conc entration of dye used, dyeing was also carried out at 95 degrees C, cl oser to practical dyeing conditions. An improvement in the fixation of the reactive dye was observed.