Printing of silk fabric following simultaneous mordanting technique

Abstract

Silk fabrics have been printed with colourants extracted from Rubia cordifolia, Madhuca indica, Laccifer lacca, Acacia catechu, Indigofera tinctoria, Punica granatum, Teminalia chebula, Curcuma longa, Camel lia sinensis, Bixa orellana, Allium cepa, Rheum emodi in absence and in presence of aluminium sulphate, ferrous sulphate and copper sulphate following simultaneous mordanting technique for producing shades of difterent colours and also to achieve good overall colour fastness properties of the printed fabrics. Tradi tional methods of printing with natural dyes have their own limitations i.e. more time consuming process, poor colourfastness to washing, difficult to use print paste containing metal salts in presence of gum atter 2-3 hrs, difficult to achieve white ground etc. The technique adapted in this study is less time consuming. economical and also helps to produce print paste with better storage stability as compared to the conven tional printing process. The dyeing and printing with those colourants is found to be effectively accomplished under acidic condi tion (pH -4.5) in absence of any inorganic salts. Printed fabries in general show a common light fastness and wash fastness ratings of 4 and 3 respectively, except Bixa orellana and Curcuma longa. However aluminium sulphate, ferrous sulphate and copper sulphate when used as mordanting agents produce an improvement in light and washfastness properties of the printed fabrics.