For many years, natural dyes have been used to color fabrics, providing vibrant hues and acting as a sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes. Sourced from plants, minerals, and sometimes insects, these dyes offer a wide range of colors, each with its own unique characteristics and qualities. Renowned for their visual appeal and environmental benefits, natural dyes require careful attention to ensure color longevity. Factors such as the selection of the right mordant, the regulation of dye concentration, control over pH levels, and the application of after-dye treatments significantly affect the permanence of the dye. Additionally, the care of naturally dyed fabrics is important and includes gentle washing and shielding them from prolonged exposure to sunlight to extend their durability. Mordanting is essential in the natural dyeing process as it secures the color to the fibers and improves color stability. Mordants create a chemical connection between the dye molecules and the fibers, promoting enduring and vivid colors. Different mordants, including alum, iron, copper, and tannin-rich materials like oak galls and myrobalan, can be employed in natural dyeing. Each type of mordant affects the final color differently, so selecting the right one for the intended outcome is crucial. Prior to mordanting, it is important to thoroughly scour the fabric to eliminate impurities and prepare the fibers for even dye absorption. Mordanting not only enhances color fastness but also enables a broader spectrum of colors to be achieved with natural dyes. By experimenting with various mordants and dyeing methods, we can produce fabrics that showcase rich, intricate colors and distinctive visual effects. Mexican mint leaves, also referred to as Indian Borage, are recognized for their healing qualities. When ingested, they help defend against colds and coughs, detoxify the body, and enhance digestion. Additionally, they are believed to aid in wound healing. The leaves possess a strong fragrance. Natural dye can be derived from these leaves and utilized for fabric dyeing. In this chapter, cotton fabric was treated with three distinct mordants and then dyed with the extract of Mexican mint leaves. The mordants employed were myrobalan, ferrous sulphate, and copper sulphate. When myrobalan and copper sulphate were used as the mordants, a pale yellow hue was achieved. A light brown shade was produced from the sample treated with ferrous sulphate. The colorfastness of the sample dyed with copper sulphate mordant was superior. A handkerchief was created using the dyed fabric that was mordanted with copper sulphate.

Sustainable Coloration of Cotton Fabric Using Mexican Mint Leaves

章节
发表日期：

2025年

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M. Parthiban,
D. Gopalakrishnan

摘要

For many years, natural dyes have been used to color fabrics, providing vibrant hues and acting as a sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes. Sourced from plants, minerals, and sometimes insects, these dyes offer a wide range of colors, each with its own unique characteristics and qualities. Renowned for their visual appeal and environmental benefits, natural dyes require careful attention to ensure color longevity. Factors such as the selection of the right mordant, the regulation of dye concentration, control over pH levels, and the application of after-dye treatments significantly affect the permanence of the dye. Additionally, the care of naturally dyed fabrics is important and includes gentle washing and shielding them from prolonged exposure to sunlight to extend their durability. Mordanting is essential in the natural dyeing process as it secures the color to the fibers and improves color stability. Mordants create a chemical connection between the dye molecules and the fibers, promoting enduring and vivid colors. Different mordants, including alum, iron, copper, and tannin-rich materials like oak galls and myrobalan, can be employed in natural dyeing. Each type of mordant affects the final color differently, so selecting the right one for the intended outcome is crucial. Prior to mordanting, it is important to thoroughly scour the fabric to eliminate impurities and prepare the fibers for even dye absorption. Mordanting not only enhances color fastness but also enables a broader spectrum of colors to be achieved with natural dyes. By experimenting with various mordants and dyeing methods, we can produce fabrics that showcase rich, intricate colors and distinctive visual effects. Mexican mint leaves, also referred to as Indian Borage, are recognized for their healing qualities. When ingested, they help defend against colds and coughs, detoxify the body, and enhance digestion. Additionally, they are believed to aid in wound healing. The leaves possess a strong fragrance. Natural dye can be derived from these leaves and utilized for fabric dyeing. In this chapter, cotton fabric was treated with three distinct mordants and then dyed with the extract of Mexican mint leaves. The mordants employed were myrobalan, ferrous sulphate, and copper sulphate. When myrobalan and copper sulphate were used as the mordants, a pale yellow hue was achieved. A light brown shade was produced from the sample treated with ferrous sulphate. The colorfastness of the sample dyed with copper sulphate mordant was superior. A handkerchief was created using the dyed fabric that was mordanted with copper sulphate.