Dyeing Properties and Color Fastness of Chitosan Treated Cotton Fabrics with Thian King Leaves Extract

Chitosan, a naturally available biopolymer, was used as finishing agent to increase dye uptake and color fastness of cotton fabrics. Thian King leaves extract a natural dye was applied on cotton fabrics after chitosan treatment. The whiteness index and tensile strength of samples were measured to study the effect of chitosan application. The color of dyed samples was investigated in term of the colorimetric parameters (L*, a*, b*, ∆E) and K/S values. The color fastness to washing, rubbing and light of dyed samples was determined according to AATCC test method. The results showed that the chitosan concentration enhances the whiteness index and tensile strength of the treated cotton fabrics. Chitosan treatment showed increase dye uptake of cotton fabrics. Fastness properties of these to washing, rubbing and light have also been discussed.