Fibre Treatment Technique by Using Alizarin to Confer Functions of Scavenging and Detecting Hapten Nickel and Cobalt Ions upon Cotton Fabric for the Control of Metal Allergy Symptoms

Abstract

A treatment technique to confer the functions of scavenging and detecting nickel and cobalt ions upon cotton fabric was studied in order to prevent metal allergy symptoms. Cotton fabrics were treated with alizarin in combination with tamarind gum and polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether. The chemically crosslinked tamarind gum worked as the fixing matrices of the indicator alizarin. The treated cotton fabrics showed colour change from reddish purple to bluish purple by immersed in aqueous solution containing Ni²⁺ or Co²⁺. The results indicated the possibility that the alizarin-treated cotton fabric scavenges hapten metal ions which cause allergies and the detection is indicated by the change in colour of the fabric. The colour changes are based on alizarin - metal complex formation.