Dyeing of Chitin Nanofibers With Reactive Dyes and Preparation of Their Sheets and Fiber Reinforced Materials

The study explored the dyeing of chitin nanofibers using reactive dyes to produce blue, red, and yellow fibers, which could be mixed to create purple, orange, and green fibers. The covalent bonding between the dye and chitin nanofibers made them resistant to hot water and detergents. The optimal dye-to-chitin ratio was found to be 5% for the best reaction yield and color properties. The morphology of the nanofibers remained intact post-dyeing. Additionally, dyed chitin nanofibers were used to reinforce resin, enhancing its mechanical strength and adding color while maintaining some transparency.