Cationization as Tool
for Functionalization of Cotton
Ashwini Patil, Saptarshi Maiti, Aranya Mallick, Kedar Kulkarni
and Ravindra Adivarekar
Abstract The textile processing industry is copiously dependent on utilities, chemicals and colourants to improve its aesthetic properties. Cotton continues to be the most
important textile fibre inspite of a large increase in the production and availability
of manufactured fibres and is best known for its outstanding comfort characteristics.
Current estimates for world production of cotton are about 25 million tonnes or 110
million bales annually, accounting for 2.5% of the world’s arable land. It is a natural
fibre which assumes negative zeta potential when immersed in water. The zeta potential (ζ-potential) is the potential difference across phase boundaries between solids
and liquids. It’s a measure of the electrical charge of particles that are suspended in
liquid. This results in repelling similarly charged ions of substantive dyes such as
direct and reactive. It is possible to reduce the repulsion by chemically modifying
the cotton surface by depositing cation onto the surface of cotton. This process is
well known as the cationization of cotton. The cationizing agents are used to develop
cationic sites on the cotton so that anionic dyes or finish get attracted forming ionic
linkages. In a simple way, a cationic auxiliary increases affinity and reactivity of
anionic dyes and finishes towards the textile substrate, the cotton. This method is
used to enhance the dyeing and finishing property of cotton. These auxiliaries create
reactive sites to impart functionality such as colour, flame retardancy, water repellency, antimicrobial properties, etc. to the cotton substrates. These auxiliaries can
be successfully applied on the cotton substrate by the exhaust, padding, layer by
layer, sol-gel and coating method. The aim of the current chapter is to discuss the
importance of cationization, cationizing agents and its application on cotton.
Keywords Pigment dyeing · Exhaust method · Cotton · Cationizing agent · Zeta
potential
A. Patil · S. Maiti · A. Mallick · K. Kulkarni · R. Adivarekar (B)
Department of Fibres and Textile Processing Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology,
Mumbai 400019, India
e-mail: rv.adivarekar@ictmumbai.edu.in
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
M. Shahid and R. Adivarekar (eds.), Advances in Functional Finishing of Textiles, Textile
Science and Clothing Technology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3669-4_13
289
for Functionalization of Cotton
Ashwini Patil, Saptarshi Maiti, Aranya Mallick, Kedar Kulkarni
and Ravindra Adivarekar
Abstract The textile processing industry is copiously dependent on utilities, chemicals and colourants to improve its aesthetic properties. Cotton continues to be the most
important textile fibre inspite of a large increase in the production and availability
of manufactured fibres and is best known for its outstanding comfort characteristics.
Current estimates for world production of cotton are about 25 million tonnes or 110
million bales annually, accounting for 2.5% of the world’s arable land. It is a natural
fibre which assumes negative zeta potential when immersed in water. The zeta potential (ζ-potential) is the potential difference across phase boundaries between solids
and liquids. It’s a measure of the electrical charge of particles that are suspended in
liquid. This results in repelling similarly charged ions of substantive dyes such as
direct and reactive. It is possible to reduce the repulsion by chemically modifying
the cotton surface by depositing cation onto the surface of cotton. This process is
well known as the cationization of cotton. The cationizing agents are used to develop
cationic sites on the cotton so that anionic dyes or finish get attracted forming ionic
linkages. In a simple way, a cationic auxiliary increases affinity and reactivity of
anionic dyes and finishes towards the textile substrate, the cotton. This method is
used to enhance the dyeing and finishing property of cotton. These auxiliaries create
reactive sites to impart functionality such as colour, flame retardancy, water repellency, antimicrobial properties, etc. to the cotton substrates. These auxiliaries can
be successfully applied on the cotton substrate by the exhaust, padding, layer by
layer, sol-gel and coating method. The aim of the current chapter is to discuss the
importance of cationization, cationizing agents and its application on cotton.
Keywords Pigment dyeing · Exhaust method · Cotton · Cationizing agent · Zeta
potential
A. Patil · S. Maiti · A. Mallick · K. Kulkarni · R. Adivarekar (B)
Department of Fibres and Textile Processing Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology,
Mumbai 400019, India
e-mail: rv.adivarekar@ictmumbai.edu.in
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
M. Shahid and R. Adivarekar (eds.), Advances in Functional Finishing of Textiles, Textile
Science and Clothing Technology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3669-4_13
289