In: Chemistry
Explain why dyes attach to natural fibers more readily than synthetic fibers. How do the structures relate?
Many natural fibers like cotton, lenin, are made up of cellulose, cellulose is a polymer made up of many glucose units joined by beta linkages, cellulose contain many -OH groups which can react with acidic dyes to form ester linkages between dye and fiber and hence they get readily attach to dye.
Synthetic polymers like terylene, polyesters etc which do not contain such -OH groups are difficult to dye
Natural polymer like silk which is made up of protein contain many polar groups such as -C=O, -NH, -OH etc can also easily bind to dyes by both chemical bonds and physical interaction.