Dyeing Efficiency of Natural Dye from “Insulina” (Justica secenda) Leaves.

Abstract

The study investigated the dyeing efficiency of dye extracted from ‘insulina’ (Justica secenda) leaves. Specifically, the study determined the fastness of dye extracted from insulina leaves, to washing, sunlight and perspiration. The study adopted experimental research design. It was conducted in five phases: treatment of insulina leaves; mordanting 100 percent cotton fabric with alum (potassium aluminium sulphate); extraction of dye from insulina leaves, dyeing of the mordanted cotton fabric with the insulina dye; testing for the fastness of the dyed cotton fabric to washing, sunlight, and perspiration. Alum mordanted cotton fabric was dyed with dye extracted from insulina leaves. This gave a light yellow colour to the dried fabric. The dried dyed fabric was cut into samples (A, B, C and D) for three different treatments of determination of colour fastness of insuluna dyed fabric as follows: Samples A– boiling, Sample B – exposure to sunlight; and sample C exposure to perspiration; Sample D was control. Each of the three treatments was carried out three times. A panel of five assessed the samples (A, B, and C) using a 3-point rating scale. Data were analyzed using mean. Major findings reveal, among others, colour of fabric remained fast (light yellow) after first treatments for samples A (̅X = 3.00) and sample B (̅X = 3.0); subsequent treatments showed slight colour changes (̅X =1.00). Sample C (exposed to perspiration) showed obvious change in exposeure (̅X = 2.00) and second showed “very obvious change of colour” on the third treatment (̅X = 0.5). It was recommended that further study be carried on more fastness of insulina dye to washing with different types of detergents.