Textile and Apparel Science

Investigating the Dyeing Potential of Bacterial Cellulose: Strength and Colorfastness to Perspiration and Laundering

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Abstract

Cellulosic fibers also have a long history of being colored with a variety of natural dyes. Indigo was one of the most important vat dyestuffs in the world until the invention of synthetic dyes. Cochineal, as a natural dye requiring a mordant, has color and colorfastness of the dye reliant on the dyestuff, the mordant used and their concentrations. Weld is a yellow dyestuff from plants cultivated throughout Europe that produces vibrant, clear yellows with excellent light and wash fastness. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a material that lacks impurities associated with plant based cellulose, like hemicellulose and lignin that has limited research investigating coloration methods. In this research, BC was dyed with natural and fiber reactive dyes in the colors red, yellow and blue and colorfastness to perspiration and laundering was evaluated. Some colorfastness performance issues were noted.

Keywords: Laundering, Perspiration, Fiber Reactive Dyes, Natural Dyes, Bacterial Cellulose

How to Cite:

Harmon, J., (2020) “Investigating the Dyeing Potential of Bacterial Cellulose: Strength and Colorfastness to Perspiration and Laundering”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 77(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.12160