Reactive Dyeing of Photografted para-Aramid Fabrics

para-Aramid has limited dyeability because of its highly crystalline structure and compactness. To improve the dyeability of the para-aramid to reactive dyes of bright color in deep shade, the fabrics were photografted under continuous UV irradiation with dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide and 4-benzoyl benzoic acid as a monomer and a hydrogen -abstractable photoinitiator respectively. A UV energy of 35J/$cm^2$ and a photoinitiator concentration of ten percent or more with respect to the monomer in the formulation was required for optimal photografting. Grafting yield increased with higher monomer application level. Surface analysis indicated significant alterations in the atomic composition of the photografted fabric surface and the fabric surface was covered with the grafted polymers. While the pristine para-aramid fabrics showed no appreciable dyeability to the ${\alpha}$-bromoacrylamide reactive dyes, the grafted para-aramid fabrics enhanced the dyeability to the reactive dyes substantially. In case of C.I. Reactive Blue 50, a K/S value of 8.7 can be obtained with the grafted para-aramid fabrics with a grafting yield of 2.3 %. Also the color fastness properties of the dyed fabrics was excellent in the conditions of washing, rubbing and light irradiation.