SELF-DYED SILK BY FEEDING SILKWORMS WITH COLOURED MULBERRY LEAVES – APPROACHING SUSTAINABLE SILK TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

Mulberry silk is one of the highest quality fibres with outstanding properties. Its traditional colouring process is dying. This study investigated a novel method called “self-dyedˮ, where silkworms were fed with coloured mulberry leaves on the first, third, and fourth day of the fifth instar of the life cycle. The Rhodamine B dyestuff with different concentrations was applied during feeding. There was a significant difference in mortality rate, spinning, reeling processes, and colour intensity of newly fed silkworms. The silk colour was evaluated by CIE Lab colour measurement and microscope. The colour intensity also depends on dyestuffs concentrations, silkworm breed, and feeding time. This dyeing method is the premise for developing and building an environmentally friendly dyeing process for silk. It also minimizes the traditional dyeing process's water and wastewater costs. In addition, this study shares advanced knowledge and practices in the sustainable development of the textile industry.