Azo disperse dyes based on citrazinic acid: synthesis, antibacterial activity and printing application in silk and polyamide-6 fabrics

Purpose This study aims to dye Silk and polyamide fabrics using synthetic dyes to give the fabrics fastness qualities, including washing, perspiration, light, rubbing and sublimation fastness, also to be effective against bacteria. Design/methodology/approach We used the coupling of diazonium salts of aniline derivatives with 2,6-dihydroxyisonicotintic acid to prepare substituted azo citrazinic acid. By using synthetic thickeners as a thickening agent, the screen printing process of these dyes is found to have printing characteristics. Findings The authors developed and produced a range of bioactive disperse dyes to be conjugated with citrazinic acid moieties and aromatic scaffold derivatives in the same construct via an azo linker to take advantage on the bioactive property of both motifs. The practicality, fastness and spectroscopic properties of the dyes were investigated. The dyes’ activity was evaluated initially in an antibacterial test using two Gram-positive bacteria and two Gram-negative bacteria. Originality/value Silk and polyamide fabrics can be printed using disperse colors that have been shown to be effective against bacteria. Analysis was also done on the dyes’ color properties and fastness qualities, including washing, perspiration, light, rubbing and sublimation fastness.