Dyeing of cotton/acrylic blend fabric in a single-bath-single-stage method using indigo dye

In this study, an attempt has been made to dye cotton/acrylic blend fabrics in a single-bath-single-stage method considering today's growing market for such blended products. Yarn-blend cotton/acrylic fabric was produced and dyed at 3% shade using indigo dye in the exhaust method to optimise the dyeing conditions by varying the amount of reducing agent, pH, and dyebath temperature. The colour yield of both the acrylic part and cotton components of the blend was influenced by pH levels. Meanwhile, the temperature played a notable role in determining the colour yield of the acrylic portion. Optimised dyeing conditions were obtained at pH 6 and 120°C for the acrylic part, whereas pH 11 and 90°C temperature were obtained for the cotton part. These conditions involved the use of sodium dithionite (15 g/L) as a reducing agent and sodium hydroxide as an alkali. While the yarn-blend fabrics exhibited a unique shadow dyeing effect, solid dyeing results were achieved with fibre-blend fabrics, underscoring the versatility of this single-bath-single-stage method. To assess the overall dyeing performance, comprehensive evaluations including bursting strength measurements, assessments of fastness to washing, perspiration, and rubbing were conducted, all of which provided valuable insights into the durability and colour retention of the yarn-blend fabrics. This research not only addresses the demand for cotton/acrylic blend fabrics in today's market but also demonstrates an efficient and innovative single-bath-single-stage dyeing approach using indigo dye, which holds promise for the textile industry's future sustainability and product diversity.