Abstract
When utilizing a commercial binder, it is important to prioritize natural resources for dyeing and printing textile substrates due to environmental concerns and regulations about toxins released by the textile industry. This study is concerned with isolating a genuine thickening agent and binder from apple rock Bael as a natural resource. The extraction of natural thickening agents and binders from apple rock Bael is an ecologically sound alternative to commercial thickeners and binders and a low-cost method for printing natural and synthetic fabrics. The isolated natural gum can be utilized as a thickener and binder in fabric printing applications. The results revealed that the isolated natural gum has good rheological characteristics. All printed samples using isolated natural gum as a thickener or a binder were fixed using innovative techniques, namely microwave irradiation for different time and power levels (covered and uncovered). For comparison all the printed fabrics were fixed using thermal fixation at different intervals and temperatures. The obtained results illustrated that all printed fabric had satisfactory color fastness properties, samples subjected to microwave fixation irradiation gave a depth color giving to K/S value and covered samples had higher value when compared with the uncovered one. Physical and mechanical properties of printed fabrics, such as color yield, color unevenness, penetration, and fixation% were evaluated.