EFFECT OF SOME CHEMICAL TREATMENTS ON DYEING COTTON FABRICS WITH A NATURAL DYE (HENNA)

In recent years, concern for the environment has created an in­creasing demand on natural dyes which are more friendly to the environ­ment than synthetic dyes. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of two chemical treatments mercerization and resin application (DMDHEU) on dye fastness of various fabric structures woven from the yarns of Giza 83 cotton variety. The natural dye henna was utilized in this respect. The findings of the study indicated that, mercerization treatment increased both color strength (K/S) and acidic perspiration fastness expressed in terms of color change (c.c.). On the other hand, resin treatment increased fastness to alkali perspiration, whether in terms of color change (c.c.) or color staining (c.s.). Furthermore, both treatments brought about an increase in either fastness to wash (c.c. and c.s.) or fastness to dry rubbing. Treated and untreated fabrics of dif­ferent structures (plain, twill and knit) responded differently to dyeing with natural dye.