Simultaneous grafting and dyeing of loomstate cotton fabric using potassium permanganate citric acid methacrylic acid dye system

Samples of loomstate cotton fabric were first treated with aqueous potassium permanganate solution at different concentrations in the presence of a non‐ionic wetting agent. The samples were then washed and treated using solutions containing methacrylic acid, wetting agent and acid or basic dye along with citric acid of different concentrations at different temperatures for different times. The critical properties of the fabric such as graft yield (expressed as carboxyl content m.eq/100g cellulose), colour strength before and after soaping and percentage loss in colour strength due to soaping were found to depend on the concentrations of KMnO₄, citric acid and methacrylic acid as well as duration of the treatment. Based on the results obtained, treating formulations consisting of KMnO₄ (0.1g/l), citric acid (0.1g/l), methacrylic acid (50 per cent), dye (1 per cent) and wetting agent (2g/l) was considered appropriate for concurrent grafting and dyeing of the said fabrics provided that the treatment was carried out at 90°C for 60 minutes.