CHEMISTRY

PROJECT TOPIC:
Dyeing of Fabrics
To study the process of dyeing different
fabrics using natural and synthetic dyes
and to observe the effect of various factors
such as temperature, mordant use, and
fabric type on the dyeing process.

By
Keshav Daga
 INDEX
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AIM
INTRODUCTION
TYPES OF DYES
TYPES OF FABRICS USED
THEORY
MATERIALS REQUIRED
PROCEDURE
OBSERVATIONS
RESULTS
CONCLUSION
PRECAUTIONS
APPLICATIONS
FUTURE SCOPE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all
those who have helped me complete this school
project successfully.

I am extremely thankful to my chemistry teacher ,

Subhashini ma’am for invaluable guidance,
encouragement and support throughout this project.
She provided me direction, reviewed my progress and
results, and helped me clarify my doubts. I sincerely
appreciate the time and effort she put into supervising
my project.

My special thanks to my family, they encouraged me at

every step, and helped me manage my time
effectively. Their faith in my abilities inspired me to
take on this project.

I could not have completed this project successfully

without the support of all these people. I will always be
indebted for everything they have done for me.
 AIM
TO COMPARE THE DYEING
EFFECTS OF NATURAL DYES AND
SYNTHETIC DYES ON VARIOUS
FABRICS SUCH AS COTTON,
WOOL, AND SILK, AND TO
OBSERVE HOW MORDANTS
AFFECT DYEING QUALITY.
 INTRODUCTION
Dyeing is an ancient technique used to
impart colour to textiles. Early
civilizations used natural dyes from
plants, insects, and minerals. The
discovery of synthetic dyes in the 19th
century revolutionized textile production
with brighter shades and better fastness.
The affinity of fabrics for dyes depends
on:

The chemical structure of both the

fabric and the dye.
Use of mordants, which help fix dye
molecules onto fabric by forming
complexes.
The temperature, pH, and time of the
dyeing process.
 TYPES OF DYES
Dyes are broadly classified into two main types 1:

1) Natural Dyes

Sources:
Plants: Indigo (blue), Madder (red), Turmeric (yellow).
Insects: Cochineal (red).
Minerals: Ochre (brown).
Advantages:
Non-toxic, eco-friendly, biodegradable.
Renewable.
Limitations:
Limited shade range.
Poor light and wash fastness.
Requires mordants to bind dye to fabric.

2) Synthetic Dyes

Classes:
Azo Dyes (e.g., Congo Red): Most widely used.
Anthraquinone Dyes: Deep blues, violets.
Reactive Dyes: Chemically bond with fabric.
Advantages:
Bright, vibrant shades.
High wash, rub, and light fastness.
Cheaper and consistent.
Limitations:
Potential environmental toxicity.
Non-biodegradable.
 MORDANTS
A mordant is a chemical substance used to fix dyes
onto fabrics.
Common mordants:
Alum (Potassium Aluminium Sulphate): Brightens
colours.
Ferrous Sulphate: Darkens shades.
Tannic Acid: Used for vegetable dyes.

Mechanism:
Forms a complex between the dye molecule and
fabric fibres, improving adhesion and fastness.

TYPES OF FABRICS USED

Fabric Composition Characteristics
Cotton Cellulose (plant) Absorbs water, natural fibres.

Wool Protein (keratin) Animal fibre, good dye affinity.

Silk Protein (fibroin) Shiny, smooth, excellent dye uptake.

 THEORY
Dyeing is the process of applying colour to fabrics
such as cotton, silk, and wool. The dye molecules
bond with the fibres through physical or chemical
interactions, which depend on the structure of
both the dye and the fabric. Dyes are broadly
classified as natural or synthetic. Natural dyes,
derived from plants, animals, or minerals, are eco-
friendly but usually need mordants like alum or
iron salts to fix the colour and improve fastness.
Synthetic dyes, made from petrochemical sources,
provide a wide range of bright colours with good
durability and are cheaper for large-scale use, but
they may cause environmental harm if not treated
properly. The final shade and fastness of the dye
depend on fabric type, mordant usage,
temperature, and dyeing time.
 MATERIALS
REQUIRED
Materials Required :
Fabrics: Cotton, Wool, Silk
Natural Dyes: Turmeric, Beetroot
juice
Synthetic Dyes: Methylene Blue,
Malachite Green
Mordant: Alum
Beakers, tongs, measuring
cylinders, water bath, glass rods,
gloves
 PROCEDURE
A. Preparation of Fabric Samples:
[Link] three types of fabrics: Cotton, Silk, and
Polyester.
[Link] them into equal-sized pieces (approximately
10 cm x 10 cm).
[Link] the fabric pieces thoroughly with distilled
water and mild detergent to remove any dirt, oil,
or starch that may interfere with the dyeing
process.
[Link] the fabric pieces again with distilled water
and allow them to dry completely.

B. Preparation of Natural Dye Extracts:

[Link] Turmeric Powder (for yellow), Beetroot
slices (for red), and Spinach leaves (for green)
as natural dye sources.
[Link] aeach natural material in separate beakers
with 200 ml of distilled water for about 30–40
minutes to allow proper extraction of the dye.
[Link] the dye solutions using a muslin cloth or
fine sieve to remove solid residues.
[Link] the extracted dye solutions to room
temperature.
C. Preparation of Synthetic Dye Solutions:
1. Dissolve the required amount of commercial
synthetic dye powders (Red, Blue, Green) in
separate beakers containing 200 ml of
distilled water.
2. Stir the solutions well to ensure the dye
dissolves completely.
3. These solutions are now ready to use for
synthetic dyeing.

D. Mordant Treatment (For Natural Dyes):

1. Prepare a mordant solution by dissolving 10
grams of alum or iron sulfate in 200 ml of
distilled water.
2. Soak the washed fabric pieces in this
mordant solution for 30 minutes.
3. Remove the fabrics and rinse lightly with
distilled water.
4. Let them dry slightly before proceeding to
dyeing.
E. Dyeing with Natural Dyes:
1. Place the mordant-treated fabric samples into
the natural dye baths prepared earlier.
2. Keep the fabrics immersed in the dye solution
for at least 45–60 minutes while heating the
solution gently (around 60–70°C) to enhance
dye uptake.
3. Stir occasionally to ensure even dyeing.
4. Remove the fabrics from the dye baths, rinse
gently with cold water to remove unfixed dye,
and allow them to dry in shade.

F. Dyeing with Synthetic Dyes:

[Link] the synthetic dye solutions on low
heat and immerse the untreated fabric
samples into the dye baths.
[Link] the fabric in the solution for
30–40 minutes while gently heating
(around 60°C) and stirring.
[Link] the fabrics from the dye baths,
rinse thoroughly with cold water to
remove excess dye, and let them air-dry.
G. Observation and Testing:
[Link] drying, visually
observe the colour intensity,
brightness, and evenness of
all samples.
[Link] a simple
colourfastness test by
washing a corner of each
fabric sample with soap
solution and noting any
colour fading.
[Link] which fabrics and
dyes showed the best
uptake and resistance to
washing.
 OBSERVATION

RESULTS
[Link] improve the colour depth and
fastness of natural dyes.
[Link] dyes yield brighter and more durable
colours even without mordants.
[Link] fibres (wool, silk) absorb natural dyes
better than cellulose fibres (cotton).
[Link] dyes perform uniformly on all fabrics.
 CONCLUSION
[Link] dyes are safe and eco-friendly but
need mordants for effectiveness.
[Link] dyes offer superior performance but
may be environmentally harmful.
[Link] type, dye structure, and mordant
presence critically influence dyeing results.

PRECAUTIONS
1. Wear gloves while handling synthetic
dyes.
2. Use tongs to handle hot beakers.
3. Avoid contamination of dye solutions.
4. Dispose of synthetic dye solutions
properly.
 APPLICATIONS
[Link] Industry: Widely used for colouring
fabrics in clothing, upholstery, carpets, and
accessories.
[Link] and Cottage Industries: Natural dyes
are used in traditional crafts like Batik,
Bandhani, Kalamkari, and handloom textiles.
[Link] Industry: Natural dyes like turmeric and
beetroot are used as safe food colourants.
[Link]: Used in lipsticks, hair dyes, henna,
and herbal beauty products due to their skin-
friendly nature.
[Link] and Leather: Dyes are applied in making
coloured paper products and leather goods like
wallets, belts, and bags.
[Link] Field: Some dyes are essential in
microscopy, diagnostics, and biological staining.
[Link] Dyeing & Crafts: Used for tie-and-dye,
eco-printing, and DIY fabric decoration.
 FUTURE SCOPE
[Link]-friendly Synthetic Dyes: Development of
non-toxic, biodegradable synthetic dyes to
reduce pollution.
[Link] Production: Use of microbes
to produce natural dyes on a large scale.
[Link] Wastewater Treatment: Advanced
methods to recycle dye wastewater, making
dyeing processes cleaner.
[Link]-Dyeing Technology: New techniques
using nanoparticles to improve dye fixation
and reduce resource use.
[Link] Textiles: Research into dyes for fabrics
that can be UV-protective, antibacterial, or
colour-changing.
[Link] Fashion Movement: Rising demand for
organic, naturally dyed clothes in the global
eco-fashion market.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
[Link] NCERT Textbook – Class XII
2."Textile Dyeing" by Bhagwat R. Joshi
[Link] Resources:
[Link]
[Link]
[Link] Chemistry Lab Manual – CBSE