Use of fermented dough extract in the dyeing of wool fabrics

Abstract

In this study, shells of onion (<em>Allium cepa</em> L.) have been used for the dyeing of the wool fabrics. Fermented dough extract (FDE) has been chosen as a natural mordant compound and the effect of pre-treatment with the FDE is examined in terms of color strength and fastness values. Dyeing experiments are carried out at <em>p</em>H 4 and <em>p</em>H 7 using three mordanting techniques. The chromaticity co-ordinates are measured in CIELab system. The results of untreated samples are compared with the dyed samples pre-treated with FDE in terms of color strength and fastness properties. It is observed that the pre-treatment with FDE enhances not only the color strength of the dyed fabrics but also their brightness.