Shofi Fahia Anbarwati, Adhi Kusumastuti, Retno Marlangen

The Effect of Fixator Type on the Color Fastness of Cotton Fabric Dyeing with Mango Leaves Extract (Mangifera indica L.)

Introduction

The effect of fixator type on the color fastness of cotton fabric dyeing with mango leaves extract (mangifera indica l.). Investigated how alum, ferrous sulfate, and lime fixatives impact color fastness of cotton dyed with mango leaf extract. Lime significantly improved wash fastness, supporting eco-friendly natural dyeing.

Abstract

The effect of different fixatives—alum (Al₂(SO₄)₃·18H₂O), ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄·7H₂O), and lime (Ca(OH)₂)—on the color fastness of cotton fabric dyed with natural dye extracted from mango leaves (Mangifera indica L.) was investigated. The dyeing process involved boiling fresh mango leaves, applying multiple dyeing cycles, and subsequent fixation treatments. Color fastness to washing (ISO 105-C06) and wet rubbing (ISO 105-X12) was evaluated using the gray scale, and data were analyzed with the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn’s post-hoc test. Results showed that fixative type significantly affected wash fastness (p = 0.018), with lime providing the highest mean rank, followed by alum and ferrous sulfate. In contrast, fixative type had no significant effect on wet rubbing fastness (p = 0.264). These findings indicate that alkaline fixation with lime enhances wash durability of mango leaf dyes, while wet rubbing resistance is less influenced by fixative selection. This study supports the potential of mango leaf extract as an eco-friendly dye source and provides insights for optimizing mordant selection in sustainable textile dyeing applications.

Review

This study presents a focused investigation into the impact of various fixatives—alum, ferrous sulfate, and lime—on the color fastness properties of cotton fabric dyed with mango leaf extract. The research employs a clear methodology, utilizing standard ISO tests for washing and wet rubbing fastness, and robust statistical analysis (Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn’s post-hoc tests) to interpret the results. The timely exploration of natural dyes and eco-friendly textile processing aligns well with current sustainability trends, making the findings relevant for the broader field of sustainable textile chemistry. The abstract effectively outlines the experimental approach and highlights the key quantitative outcomes of the study. The core findings reveal a significant influence of fixative type on wash fastness, with lime demonstrably providing superior durability compared to alum and ferrous sulfate. This is a crucial practical insight, suggesting that alkaline fixation is particularly effective for enhancing the wash resistance of dyes derived from mango leaves. Conversely, the study found no significant effect of fixative type on wet rubbing fastness, indicating that this particular property might be less dependent on the chemical interaction facilitated by these fixatives and more on other factors such as dye aggregation or surface adherence. These distinct results offer valuable guidance for optimizing dye application processes using this specific natural source. While the study provides compelling evidence regarding the efficacy of lime, further insights into the underlying mechanisms would strengthen the paper. For instance, exploring the interaction between the phenolic compounds in mango leaf extract, the cotton fiber, and the different fixatives at a molecular level could provide a deeper understanding of why lime performs better in wash fastness. Additionally, although gray scale evaluation is standard, quantitative colorimetric data (e.g., L*a*b* values) before and after fastness tests could offer a more precise measure of color change. Nevertheless, the paper makes a valuable contribution to the field of natural dyeing, offering clear, actionable data for textile practitioners and researchers interested in eco-friendly alternatives.

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