Hand-related Physical Properties and Luster Properties of Chitosan treated Cotton and Nylon Fabrics dyed with Natural Dyestuffs

Abstract

Chitosan treatment of textile fabrics has been studied to improve fabric characteristics and functions.Natural dyestuffs have been more actively employed in environment-conscious finishing products. In thisstudy, chitosan treated cotton and nylon fabrics were prepared for dyeing with a few natural dyestuffs.These were Caesalpina sappan, Gardenia jasminoides, and cochineal in the form of powder. Hand-related physical and mechanical properties and luster characteristics were examined using the KES-FBseries instruments and a set of luster measuring equipment. The chitosan treatment seemed to be moreeffective in terms of increasing stiffness for cotton fabric. Since cotton fibers have more -OH groups inthe molecules, they provide more linkage sites with the chitosan than the nylon 6 fibers do.