Dyeing properties of the disperse dyes containing cyano group based on benzisothiazole for polyester fabrics under alkali condition

One step dyeing of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics combining pretreatment and dyeing under the alkali condition was developed for cleaner production. One step dyeing of PET fabrics required that the dye used has good acid and alkali stability. In this paper, dyeing properties of three azo disperse dyes containing cyano group based on benzisothiazole, 3- (4-N-ethoxyl-N-cyanoethyl -phenyldiazenyl)-5-nitro-2,1-benzisothiazole (D1), 3-(4-N-ethyl-N-cyanoethyl- phenyldiazenyl)- 5-nitro-2,1-benzisothiazole (D2), and 3-(N-benzyl-N-cyanoethyl- phenyldiazenyl)-5-nitro-2,1-benzisothiazole (D3), were investigated under alkali condition. The results showed that polyester fabrics could be well dyed with D1, D2 and D3 under the acid condition. However, D1 was decomposed while dyeing at the alkali solution. D2 and D3 had excellent color yields under the alkali condition. The acid-alkali stability and the structure change were analyzed by UV-vis spectrum and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Gaussian 09 program package was used to optimize geometry by B3LYP method and 6-31G (d) basis set. The solvation energy of D1 in water was higher than those of D2 and D3. The electron withdrawn effect of the hydroxyl affected the energy gap of HOMO and LUMO orbits. D2 and D3 showed excellent stability in the strong alkali medium. And the dyed polyester fabrics with D2 and D3 at the alkali condition also had good fastness properties.