Non-Covalent Bonding of Green Synthesized Copper Nanoparticles to Enhance Physicochemical Behavior of Sulfur-Dyed Cotton Fabric

Abstract

Cotton fabric samples were treated with copper acetate mordant, in addition to green synthesized copper nanoparticles extracted from the Conocarpus erectus leaves, with two different concentrations of 10% and 20%, respectively. Two dyeing techniques, continuous dyeing and exhaust dyeing, were employed. X-ray diffraction confirmed the synthesis of copper nanoparticles with an approximate size of 30 nm. Scanning electron microscopy showed copper nanocrystals with a size range of 30–70 nm. The tensile strength showed an approximately 60% rise in the warp direction and an approximately 20% rise in the weft direction for both continuous and exhaust dyeing techniques. The color strength (ratio of absorption co-efficient (K) and scattering coefficient (S); K/S) showed an improvement of 100% and 20% for the exhaust and continuous dyeing techniques, respectively. Both the dyeing techniques showed a rising trend in color fastness to wash and color fastness to rubbing with an increment up to grade 5. The light fastness showed an improvement up to grade 6 for both the techniques. Fastness to rubbing showed an increment from 1 to 5 for both techniques.