Textile and Apparel Science

Investigating the Dyeing Potential of Bacterial Cellulose: Colorfastness to Crocking and Artificial Light

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Abstract

For cellulosic fibers, the synthetic dye most common is reactive dye. These dyes form a strong covalent bond with the cellulose, resulting in excellent color fastness. Natural dyes are largely plant based and can vary in hue and intensity. Despite this, dyestuffs like indigo, cochineal and weld were frequently used. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is extruded by acetic-acid bacterium to produce a biodegradable cellulosic product. BC displays increased water absorbing capability and tensile strength, while lacking impurities. The micro-fibrils interact through hydrogen bonds, resulting in a crystalline, absorbent fiber-web. This study investigated the dye-ability of BC with natural and fiber reactive dyes in the colors blue, yellow and red. Noticeable differences were seen in the wet crocking and light exposure colorfastness performance of the dyes.

Keywords: Light, Crocking, Fiber Reactive Dye, Natural Dye, Bacterial Cellulose

How to Cite:

Harmon, J., (2020) “Investigating the Dyeing Potential of Bacterial Cellulose: Colorfastness to Crocking and Artificial Light”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 77(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.12165