Dyeing of ecru denim with onion extract using natural mordant combinations

Abstract

Ecru denim swatches were dyed with onion extract using natural mordants such as harda, tartaric acid and tannic acid separately and in combinations. Harda-tartaric acid combination was found to be the best followed by tannic acid-harda and tartaric acid- tannic acid combinations. Synergistic effect of mordant was observed while using the binary combinations of mordants. Meta-mordanting gave the best results for harda-tartaric acid and tartaric acid-tannic acid combinations, while pre-mordanting gave the best results for tartaric acid-harda combination. There was an overall improvement in performance properties of the samples dyed with various combinations over that of the single mordanted and the control samples. This new technique has immense potential in the modem concept of natural denim wear dyed with natural dyes using natural mordants.