Comparative study of cotton fabric vat dyeing using pad-dry-cure method and sustainable foam dyeing technique

Abstract

In this study, textile foam dyeing technique, a low wet pick-up and minimal add-on technique, has been applied to the cotton fabric to evaluate performance properties in comparison to the traditional pad-dry-cure dyeing method. The vat foam dyeing process was developed for cotton fabric by using three foaming agents along with two foam stabilizers. The foaming agents, sodium lauryl ether sulphate and sodium lauryl sulphate were investigated in combination with foam stabilizers sodium sulphate and sodium-tri polyphosphate using leuco vat dye. The foam dye formulation was optimized for two colors of vat dye and applied on fabric using a knife on roller type foam coating machine. Various foam dye formulations were used to achieve the required shade depth of the color. The performance properties of the foam dyed fabric were evaluated for shade depth (K/S value), color fastness to washing and color fastness, tearing strength and air permeability in comparison with pad-dry-cure vat dyed cotton fabric. The best results for vat foam dyed cotton fabric were achieved with all foaming agents in blend with foam stabilizer sodium tri-polyphosphate. The dye form formulation presented excellent results with the foam agent sodium dodecyl sulphate with the addition of the foam stabilizer sodium tri-poly phosphate.