Dyeing of electrospun nylon 6 nanofibers with reactive dyes using electron beam irradiation

Nylon 6 nanofibers were prepared by using an electrospinning technique. The dyeing behavior of nylon 6 nanofibers which were dyed with reactive dyes, vinylsulphone type-Remazol Red RR, by electron beam irradiation (EBI) has been investigated. Electrospun nylon 6 nanofibers were irradiated varying EBI doses of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 100 kGy and their K/S values, Lab values and dyeing equilibrium were observed. No additives and toxic reagents were used for dyeing nylon 6 nanofibers with reactive dyes using radiation. Compared with conventional dyeing method, it is found that irradiated dyeing of nylon 6 nanofibers with reactive dyes has improved not only the color strength and fiber-shrink phenomenon but also the scission reactions of functional groups of Remazol Red RR at EBI dose greater than 10 kGy. This finding suggests that the dyeing by EBI significantly influence the waste-water treatment in a green way. The resulting dyed nylon 6 nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV–Visible spectroscopy.