Abstract

S. Subhashini², R. Rajalakshmi² and N. Veni Keertheeswari¹

Due to environmental awareness created among masses worldwide by environmentalists and green peace activists and hazards of certain synthetic dyes, people have realized the potential of natural dyes and tried to use them as an alternative to synthetic dyes. In this discussion efforts are taken to dye silk fabric using Annatto seed extract. The extract was prepared in aqueous, alkaline and alcoholic media. The method of dyeing silk with the seeds was standardized determining the optimum dyeing conditions namely dye material concentration, dye material extraction time, mordant concentration and mordanting method. The dyed silk fabrics are subjected to tests such as tensile strength, abrasion, crocking and light fastness tests. The antimicrobial property of the extracted dye samples is studied by using Gram positive and Gram negative culture. Annatto seeds dye on silk fabrics provides favorable results.

Natural dye; silk-annatto seeds; bacteria

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