Observations of Mechanisms for Selected Dye Carriers Using Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry

The mechanisms of two dye carriers, anthranilic acid and salicyclic acid have been investigated by observing their effects on the surface wettability of polyester film, dye uptake, and dye distribution within the film. Wettability, dye uptake and the distribution of the dye within the film were studied, the latter using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. Both acids function as dye carriers for polyester by similar mechanisms. Anthranilic acid was found to increase the surface wettability of the film to a greater extent than did salicyclic acid, while the latter was found to give greater dye uptake and a more uniform distribution of the dye. These differences have been attributed to the differences in molecular interactions between film, dye and dyebath