Eco-friendly coloration of silk and flax fabrics with natural dye enhanced by ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

Background and objectives Plants are the main source of natural colorant as they are widely available and can be considered as zero cost dyes, as they are obtained from plants planted for other purposes. All the parts of plants are used for extracting natural color, and most of them have antimicrobial and antifungal values. The importance using of natural dye is not restricted only to its antimicrobial or other medicine value but also to its global benefit through elimination of environmental pollution, caused by usage of synthetic dyes. The disadvantage of coloring fabric with natural dye is its fastener properties, as natural dye has no affinity to the fabric. The objective of the present work is to produce an eco-friendly colored fabric produced through use of safe materials (no dyeing salts or mordant) with the aid of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The coloring component from Chelidonium majus was extracted using boiling water, and examination was done on its coloration effect on flax and silk fabrics before and after being exposed to UV radiation for both extracted dye and fabrics. Materials and methods Natural dye from UV-irradiated powder of C. majus was extracted using boiling water. The dye was used in coloration of flax and silk fabrics through dyeing process and screen printing. The effect of irradiated treatment time, dyeing bath conditions (time and temperature) as well as fixation type of printed samples has been studied. The effect of UV radiation on the morphology structure of both fabrics was illustrated by scanning electron microscope. Results and conclusion UV radiation improved the color strength (K/S) and fastness properties for both colored fabrics either dyed or printed. The optimum dyeing bath conditions used for silk and flax samples were 30°C for 30 min and 90°C for 1 h, respectively. The printed silk samples fixed by thermofixation and printed flax samples fixed using steamer have given better color strength. All dyed samples have antimicrobial properties.