Study of the effects of mordants on dyeing of cotton and silk fabrics with henna extracts

Abstract

This study was started to assess the effect of different kinds of mordant (Ferrous Sulphate- FeSO4, Alum-KAl2(SO4)3, 2g/l FeSO4 + 1g/l KAl2(SO4)3, 2g/l KAl2(SO4)3 + 2g/l FeSO4) uses for mordanting before dyeing with henna dye on both cotton and silk fabric. Mordanting is the process of making the fabric friendlier for the natural dye. Mordanting process is to increase the affinity of fiber to dye absorbency. This project was mainly focused on the effect of using different kinds of mordant and the combination of mordant using before dyeing with henna dye. To meet the demand of this project the work was to measure the stitch length, EPI, PPI, WPI, CPI, GSM, color fastness to wash and color fastness to dry and wet rubbing. The color fastness to wash and color fastness to dry & wet rubbing test were carried out to determine the dye color strength of the dye for using different kinds of mordant. For this project we took two type of fabric one is cotton single jersey fabric and another one is silk plain weave fabric. After completing all the work and analysis of this project we found that both cotton and silk were showing the changes in EPI, PPI, WPI, CPI, SL, GSM but silk show less changes than cotton and 2g/l FeSO4 + 1g/l KAl2(SO4)3 was showing good resistance of color against rubbing and washing. For dye absorbency cotton was better than silk but for color fastness properties silk was far better than cotton. In case of dry and wet rubbing test cotton and silk both shows poor quality of color fastness. In case of wet rubbing it was too difficult to compare among the mordants for their quality.