Performance enhancement of one‐bath pigment coloration and finishing process using eco‐friendly crosslinkers

Abstract The one‐bath pigment coloration and finishing process decreases the consumptions related to the energy, water, chemicals, labour, and production time as compared to the conventional two‐bath application. Conventionally, pigment coloration uses binders, such as acrylic, for the attachment of the pigment onto the fabric. Then, the finishes are applied in a separate step. One‐bath pigment coloration and finishing can solve this problem but the compatibility among the pigments, crosslinkers, and fabrics is critical and difficult to achieve. In addition, the performance of the fabric treated with one‐bath application should match the performance of the fabric treated with the conventional two‐bath coloration and finishing. To address such challenges, this article studies the performance of the one‐bath pigment coloration and finishing using three primary colours, five crosslinkers, and an oil and water repellent finish in the pad‐dry‐cure process. The results show that all the formulas with the crosslinkers are comparable with each other as well as associated reference samples coloured with conventional acrylic binder. Nevertheless, the bio‐based crosslinkers, citric acid and succinic acid, are more compatible and sustainable for the one‐bath pigment coloration and finishing. The fastness properties, shrinkage, crease recovery angle, and oil and water repellency were also improved due to the one bath pigment coloration and finishing.