Study of the Leacril Dyeing Process by a Cationic Dye from an Emulsion System

Adsorption studies of a cationic dye, Rhodamine B, from an emulsion phase on Leacril fabric at different temperatures were conducted. The emulsion phase consisted of n-hexadecane emulsified by isopropyl alcohol (1 M) and stabilized by tannic acid. In the alcohol solution Rhodamine B was dissolved. The kinetics of its adsorption and desorption is discussed. The changes in Leacril surface free energy components in the dyeing process were also determined. The adsorption data show that the presence of an emulsion increases the dye adsorption at room temperature (293 K) and at 313 K, while at 333 K it is smaller than that from Rhodamine solution alone. However, Rhodamine desorbs more when adsorbed from the solution. Surface free energy components differ for the Leacril samples dyed at different temperatures, and the most hydrophobic surface was obtained for the samples dyed at 333 K, where the electron-donor component is the lowest one. In general, the work of water spreading is close to zero, except for the above sample for which it is relatively highly negative. Possible mechanisms of the dye adsorption are discussed. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.