Effect of Protease Treatment on the Physical Properties and Dyeability of Wool/Nylon Blend to Cutch Natural Dye

The effect of protease enzyme treatment on the morphological structure, wettability and dyeability of wool/nylon blended fabric was studied. The enzymatic treatment and dyeing with cutch (Acacia catechu) natural dye was carried out by two different methods, i. e. one-bath two-stages and two- bath processes for comparison. The effect of enzyme concentration, treatment time and surfactant concentration on the dyeing properties were investigated. This study confirms surface modification of wool and nylon fibers in their blend as a result of protease treatment, by measurements of dyeability (K/S), surface properties (SEM), wettability and fastness properties. Colour strength of dyed fabrics with cutch dye showed higher values on enzyme treated samples compared to the untreated fabrics. The results of K/S obtained with the two-bath method were better than that obtained with the one- bath method. The fastness properties to washing, perspiration and light were measured according to standard methods. In general the fastness properties were found to be ranged from good to very good.