Dyeing of cotton yarn with marigold (Tagetes erecta) petals: An emphasis on pre-treatments and mordants

Abstract

Natural dyes and eco-friendly finishing of textile fabrics is gaining popularity because of the consciousness of people in saving the ecology. Widely available resources in India have encouraged researchers in experimenting on extraction and application of dyes for textile colouration. The aim of the present experiment was to standardize a protocol for optimization of pre-treatment, mordanting and dyeing of cotton yarn with African marigold flower petals. Myrobolan, pomegranate rind and tamarind hull were utilized in different concentrations for pre-treatment. Effect of different mordants and pre-treatment concentrations on colour strength (K/S, L, a* and b*) parameters of the cotton yarn is was studied. Optimised pre-treatment concentrations, mordants and dyeing techniques on colour fastness parameters are also presented. Myrobolan followed by pomegranate rind pre-treatment produced darker and even shades on cotton yarns. Metallic salts viz., Stannous Chloride, Copper Sulphate and Ferrous Sulphate proved to produce shades with good to excellent colour fastness properties.