Cotton fabric is chemically modified with a 1,3,5-triazine derivative containing multireactive and multicationic groups. The diffusion properties of the reactive dyes into net modified cotton cellulose are investigated. When the dyeing temperature is raised, the dye uptake increases gradually and approaches equilibrium after dyeing for 60 min. The diffusion coefficients at different temperatures and the activation energy of the dye are discussed. Compared with unmodified cellulose, the diffusion kinetics of the dye in the net modified cotton cellulose show significant changes. The activation energies of dyes in net modified cotton fibers are much lower than those of dyes in unmodified cotton. The dyeing behavior of the modified cotton is analyzed and compared with the unmodified cotton. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2166-2171, 2007