Natural Dyes from Leaves of Butea Monosperma and its Application on Cotton Fabric using Chemical and Natural Mordants

In recent years, a growing interest in the revival of eco-friendly natural dyes has been manifested, due to environmental concern, as well as carcinogenic effects of synthetic dyes. Present investigation deals with the extraction of natural dyes from leaves of Butea monosperma and its application, on cotton fabrics using different concentrations (0.1 to 0.5%) of chemical and natural mordants. Chemical mordants used in the study were potassium aluminum sulphate, stannous chloride, ferrous sulphate, potassium dichromate, tannic acid and natural mordants, were almond shell, walnut shell, rinds of bahera fruits, rind of harad fruits, combination of almond shell + rinds of bahera fruits and combination of walnut shell + rinds of harad fruits. Dyeing was carried out by the pre - mordanting method. Large range of colour shades was obtained, because of varying mordant concentrations. Best dyed samples were selected on the basis of maximum colour strength, and were evaluated for their colour fastness properties viz. washing, rubbing, light and perspiration, showing fair to excellent fastness numerical ratings. The results showed the leaves as a good source of dyes.