A study of effects of various mordants added to the dye extracted from litsea glutionosa(Lour) leaves on color shades of dyeing silk thread through exhaustion dyeing process
Abstract:
This research aimed to study the effects of various mordants added to the dye extracted from Litsea glutinosa (Lour) leaves on yielding different color shades in dyeing silk thread through the exhaustion dyeing process. Litsea glutinosa (Lour) trees are indigenous plants generally found in the Northeast of Thailand and only used for making hair shampoo.
The researchers purpose was to dye silk thread by using the extract from this plant leaves in order to obtain various color shades. Hence, ten mordants were added to the plant extract. Then silk thread was dyed through three different methods, i.e. Pre-, Meta- and Post-mordanting. Meanwhile, the changing of color shades of each mordant was recorded. Its color fastness to light, washing, perspiration (acidic and alkali conditions) and abrasion resistance were also observed.
It was found that the dye solution made from the plant extract was of a mild acidic condition with slight viscosity and brown in color. For the Pre-mordanting method, the use of concentrations of 50% soy protein mordant was a suitable mix whereas those of 10% copper (II) sulphate, 20% sodium sulphate, 50% neem-leaf, 50% guava-leaf and 50% eucalyptus-leaf mordants were an appropriate mixture for the Meta-mordant method. The proper proportions for the Postmordant method were those of 10% tamarind, 10% calcium hydroxide, 50% acetic acid and 50% alum mordants. Accordingly, the color shades drawn from the three methods were yellow, lightdark brown and red. Moreover, most of the dyed silk thread possessed the high to highest level (4-5 out of 5) of color fastness to light, washing, and acidic perspiration while its fastness to alkaline perspiration and abrasion resistance was at a high level (4 out of 5).