Simultaneous Dyeing and Finishing of Bio-mordanted Cotton

Natural dyeing is typically expensive because of the multi-step and lengthy process of mordanting and dyeing involved. The development of a single-step and less complex technique with added benefits that also provides functional property to the treated fabric may help to overcome this drawback. Hence, cotton fabric was simultaneously mordanted with gallnut (natural-mordant) with or without alum, dyed with babul bark (natural dye), and finished with neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) or eucalyptus leaves (Eucalyptus regnans) or ashwagandha roots (Withania somnifera) as functional finishing agents in the same bath by a single-bath two dip and two nip padding technique at 100% expression. Treatment was also done by the conventional multi-bath process for comparative purpose. All the three types of finishing agents showed improvement in the light fastness rating, UPF value, and antibacterial effect (against gram + ve and gram –ve bacteria). Resistance was higher for simultaneous application process of mordant, dye, and finishing agent by the single-bath technique as compared to sequential/conventional multi-bath method of application.