Dyeing Tencel Fabric with Azadirachta Indica Leaves and Mordanting with Potassium Aluminium Sulphate and Citrus Limon Extract for Enhanced Fastness Properties

Abstract

Amidst mounting concerns regarding the health and environmental repercussions associated with synthetic agents, there has been a burgeoning interest in the exploration of natural dyes as a safer alternative. Derived from minerals, plants, and animals, these natural dyes have gained substantial traction due to their perceived eco-friendliness and reduced health risks compared to their synthetic counterparts. Notably, our study revealed significant enhancements in fastness properties across all mordanted samples, while those left un-mordanted exhibited notably inferior fastness properties. Among the mordants under investigation, potassium aluminium sulphate demonstrated appreciable stability characteristics, yet Citrus limon extract emerged as an even more effective mordant than potassium aluminium sulphate. The study also delved into evaluating the colour strength properties of the test samples, providing a comprehensive analysis of the Tencel fabric's overall dye performance and adherence to industry standards. In this research, a natural dye was extracted from the leaves of Azadirachta indica which was applied to Tencel fabric, which was then meta-mordanted with potassium aluminium sulfate and Citrus limon extract. The study explored various dyeing parameters, including diverse dye concentrations (7 g), dyeing temperatures (35, 50, and 65 °C) with a precision of ±1 °C, and dyeing durations (40, 55, and 75 minutes). The resulting samples were then subjected to testing against fastness properties, including washing fastness (ISO 106 C06), rubbing fastness (AATCC 8), perspiration fastness (ISO 105 E04) and Colour strength (K/S) of the Tencel fabric. The assessment of fastness properties was carried out using a grey scale.