Improvement of the dyeing and fastness properties of a naphthalimide fluorescent dye using poly(amidoamine) dendrimer

In this study, 4‐amino‐9‐methoxypropylnaphthalimide fluorescent dye (dye 1) was reacted with poly(amidoamine) dendrimer G = −0.5 to prepare a naphthalimide–dendrimer hybrid dye (dye 2). The chemical structures of the synthesised dyes were confirmed by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy. The solvatochromism of the dyes was evaluated in various solvents with respect to visible absorption properties, and positive solvatochromism was observed by solvent polarity change from chloroform to ethanol. The dyeing ability of the synthesised dyes was investigated by their application onto nylon fabric, and nylon substrates dyed with dye 2 exhibited marked enhancement both in terms of colour strength and general fastness properties. The results of this study clearly demonstrated the high potential and performance of dye 2 as a novel promising fluorescent dye as compared with dye 1. Overall, it was inferred that the modification of the naphthalimide fluorescent dye with poly(amidoamine) denderimer could markedly improve the dyeing and fastness properties of the naphthalimide fluorescent dye on nylon fabrics.