Dyeing performance and antibacterial properties of air-atmospheric plasma treated polyester fabric using bio-based Haematoxylum campechianum L. dye, without mordants

Abstract

A hydrophobic polyester fabric with a prior surface activation using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) treatment was successfully dyed with natural Logwood dye (Haematoxylum campechianum L.) applying successive padding steps. Chemical and physical surface modifications were characterized by specific wettability measurements (water contact angle-WCA and % capillarity), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta potential assessments and chemical quantification assay using ortho toluidine blue dye (TBO) before and after the DBD experiment. Padding processes without and with an ecofriendly formaldehyde-free acrylate binder and bioactive agent chitosan, were tested and the resulting dyeing performances were compared in terms of color strength and fastness properties. Significant color strengths were noted on the plasma activated polyester fabrics without the use of mordants. Results were highly dependent of the selected padding method used. While color intensity (K/S) depended on fixation temperature, the plasma treatment enhanced the K/S values and led to very good wash fastness (4/5). Combination of plasma treatment and acrylate binder further enhanced the fastness including rub fastness (4/5). In addition, results showed that the wet pick-up rate of dye solution was 40% higher after plasma treatment. This result was related to the new chemical and physical modification of polyester fiber surface properties after plasma treatment. Dyeing of plasma treated polyester fiber with a bio-based logwood dye without any addition of metallic mordant while imparting antibacterial properties, was found to be a promising strategy opening up a suitable eco-option for replacing some of the hazardous dyes and intermediates used in textile dyeing.