Attaining Optimum Values of Colourfastness Properties of Sustainable Dyes on Cotton Fabrics

Abstract

The aim of this research was to identify optimum values of the colorfastness properties of sustainable dyes on cotton fabrics. Sustainable dyes are ecofriendly, biodegradable, economical and easily attainable from natural sources. The findings of this research established that good colourfastness properties of cellulosic fibres could be obtained using sustainable natural dyes. Experiments were carried out on 100% cotton voile fabrics of plain weave using four types of natural dyes: strawberry dye, beetroot dye, rose dye and China rose dye. Strawberry dye reacted with the cellulose of the cotton in an alkaline condition to form a stable covalent bond amid the dye and cellulose and showed outstanding colour fastness properties. The required experiments were conducted using the standard specified by ASTM and AATCC as stated in this paper. The colour strength properties, colour intensity properties, colour absorbency properties and colorfastness properties were investigated using a reflectance spectrophotometer and “Agilent Cary 630 FTIR Instrument” as stated in this paper. A sample dyeing machine – “Pad Dye Pad Steam” was used in this research to dye the cotton fabrics with sustainable natural dyes. The colorfastness properties were investigated using grey scale test results, and the colour strength and absorbency properties were tested using the spectrophotometer and FTIR instruments. The peak values of the FTIR instrument guaranteed the existence of the colourant or chromophore present in the dyestuffs, and exposed the best colourfastness properties. The findings of this research could be beneficial to personnel involved in textile industries who are in charge of dyeing cotton fabrics with natural dyes as well as controlling their colourfastness properties and colour intensity properties.