A Study on Dyeing of Silk Fabric with Almond Shells (P. Amygdalus L.) Waste

Abstract

The present study is an endeavour towards making the process of dyeing with natural dyes cost effective through the use of easily available waste products like outer shells of the almond fruit. Degummed crepe silk fabric has been pre-mordanted with 25% (owf) aluminium sulphate and subsequently dyed under different conditions of time, temperature, pH, material to liquor ratio and dye concentration using aqueous extract of almond shells. The effect of variation in the extraction conditions and dyeing process variables on surface colour strength, other colour related parameters as well as fastness properties (light, washing and rubbing) have been optimized. Dyeing under acidic pH gives darker shades and the fatness properties of the dyed samples range from moderate to good. Temperature and pH have been found to be the most predominating dyeing process variables for dyeing silk with aqueous extract of almond shells as indicated by the widely dispersed CDI values of the dyed samples indicating that special care should be taken to control these parameters while dyeing silk and other protein fibers using aqueous extract of almond shell.