Use of γ‐cyclodextrin/epichlorohydrin polymer in merging fabric formation and coloration processes

A candidate polymeric size was synthesised by the polymerisation of γ‐cyclodextrin with epichlorohydrin under alkaline conditions. The motivation for the synthesis was to produce a polymer that could not only function as a warp size for fabric formation, but also serve as a host for dye molecules that could subsequently be released after the weaving process, ultimately promoting the merging of fabric formation and coloration processes. The γ‐cyclodextrin/epichlorohydrin polymer has been found to promote the dissolution of textile dyes, such as CI Disperse Blue 3, CI Disperse Yellow 82 and CI Disperse Red 91 to yield pad baths capable of evenly coating polyester fabric. Upon padding and subsequent drying, the dye–γ‐cyclodextrin/epichlorohydrin polymer pad baths have been used for dyeing the fabric upon thermofixation. Furthermore, cross‐sections of fibre dyed in the same manner indicate dye penetration into the fibre.