Enhancing colour fastness properties of denim fabrics by using nanofilm deposition method

The washing and the special treatments (enzyme and/or pumice washing for aged look) on denim garments are the important parameters influencing cloth shade, color fastness and the fabric mechanical properties. The most commonly used indigo dyestuff for dyeing denim fabrics is the process of producing waste, consuming excess energy and wate. In this study, we made an attempt to reduce the environmental damage of denim dyeing processes by using nanocoating method. Indigo and reactive dyed denim fabrics were purchased from GAP Textile and used for obtaining nanofilm coated denim fabrics. Optifix E50 is used for cationic layers and Tanapur EP3027 is used for anionic layers. In the deposition process, denim fabrics were deposited with 10 multilayer films by using a padding machine for padding process and a modified open-width washing machine for continuous process. Scanning electron microscopy measurements were used to verify the presence of the deposited nanolayers. Colour fastness to washing, Colourfastness to Perspiration, Colourfastness to Water, Colourfastness to crocking and tensile strength were performed to examine the LbL process effect on the denim fabric properties. This study shows that continuous nanofilm deposition process can be used for enhancing color fastness properties of especially reactive dyed denim fabrics.