INVESTIGATING THE APPLICATION OF TERRA DYE ON COTTON KNITTED FABRICS

Abstract

Today, sustainable textile dyeing technologies are being researched with a purpose of developing ecofriendly dyes that are cost effective and resource efficient. Natural Earth Pigments also known as native earth pigments, earth colours, earth ochres, iron oxide pigments etc. come from naturally occurring minerals, typically iron oxide or manganese oxide. Terra dye is a sustainable and environment friendly dye which has been derived from pigmented earth and without the use of harsh toxic chemicals. It is 100% natural, obtained from the extraction of minerals. The study investigates the application of ‘Terra dye’ on cotton knitted fabrics. 100% Cotton Jersey and 100% Cotton Fleece fabrics were used. The terra dyed fabrics were tested for their properties of colour uptake, bleeding, rubbing fastness, resistance to light and washing fastness. The effect of different fixing agents was investigated. The results of the lab trials and testing, conclude that Terra dye has good prospects of being used in dyeing.