Abstract:
This research shows the effects of UV protection finishing on changes of color and physical properties of dyed cotton, polyester, and cotton/polyester fabrics. Three color shades (red, yellow, and blue) of reactive and disperse dyes were selected to dye fabrics containing cotton and polyester fibers, respectively. Two different UV absorbers were used for cotton and polyester finishing. Cotton, polyester, and cotton/polyester fabrics were dyed at various depth of shades ranging from 0.5-4 %owf and were finished during dyeing and after dyeing using 2 %owf UV absorber. All dyed and finished fabrics were analyzed for color differences and were tested for water absorbency, fabric strength, fabric stiffness, colorfastness to washing and to light, and UV penetration, compared with dyed fabrics. Results indicate that dyed and finished cotton and cotton/polyester fabrics show significant color differences (delta E*) compared to dyed fabrics, especially when fabrics were dyed with red or blue shade and finished together. Color differences of these fabrics were in the ranges of 2.0 8.4. UV finishing on dyed fabrics does not alter the fabric color and thus dyed and finished fabrics show very low color differences in the range of 0.1-0.5 compared to dyed fabrics. Polyester fabrics can be dyed with disperse dye and UV finished simultaneously and separately without any effect on fabric colors. Dyed and finished fabrics show a slight decrease in fabric strength of maximum 4%, a slight increase in fabric stiffness of 2%, good water absorbency, good to excellent wash and light fastness, and better UV protection than dyed fabrics