Influence of metal mordants concentration to improve UV protection and fastness properties of silk fabric dyed with purple corn cob

Abstract

In the present study, natural dye from cob of purple corn and various metallic salts have been used to identify the proper dyeing condition for attaining high quality natural dyeing along with imparting UV protection property to the dyed silk fabric. Silk fabrics dyed with cob of purple corn extract showed a violetish-pink shade, while those dyed with alum light violetish-pink shade colour. Silk substrates dyed with CuSO<inf>4</inf> and FeSO<inf>4</inf> gave a yellowish grey and violetish-gray colour, respectively. The fastness properties ranged from fair to good. The ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) values of silk fabric dyed with and without metal mordants ranged between very good and excellent. © (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.