Investigating the properties of rubbing fastness in jute-cotton blended pigment-printed fabric

Abstract

Jute and cotton, both being natural cellulosic fibers, can be blended together to create a sustainable fabric that offers a new addition to the market. In this particular study, the focus was on investigating the fastness properties of jute-cotton blended pigment printed fabric. Fastness properties are crucial for any colored fabric, including jute-cotton blended ones, as they determine the fabric's ability to retain its color and resist any changes caused by external factors. The study examined the rubbing fastness of five different jute-cotton blended pigment printed fabrics. Rubbing fastness refers to the fabric's resistance to color staining and color change when subjected to rubbing or friction. The results of the rubbing fastness tests were evaluated on a grey scale, and they ranged between 3 and 5, indicating varying degrees of staining and color change. Additionally, other important parameters such as Ends per Inch, Picks per Inch, Gram per Square Meter (GSM), and air permeability were measured for the jute-cotton blended pigment printed fabric samples. Ends per Inch and Picks per Inch refer to the number of warp and weft threads per inch, respectively, and they contribute to the fabric's overall density and strength. The GSM, which measures the weight of the fabric per square meter, ranged between 191 and 285 for the samples. Furthermore, the air permeability, which indicates the fabric's breathability, ranged from 614 m3/m2/h to 1628 m3/m2/h.