The influence of low-temperature plasma and enzymatic treatment on hemp fabric dyeability

Abstract

In order to study the influence of low-temperature air plasma and enzymatic treatment on the dyeing properties of hemp, "cold dyeing" of hemp fabric with acid dye (C.I. acid blue 113) and direct dye (C.I direct red 81) was performed. In addition to the determination of dyeing kinetics, colour yield and colourfastness, assessment of weight loss, water retention and whiteness degree, as well as SEM analysis of differently treated samples was carried out. Low-temperature plasma treatment of hemp fabric caused an increase in the dyeing rate, final dye exhaustion and colour yield of dyed samples. The positive effect of plasma treatment was explained by plasma etching and oxidation effect on the hemp fibre surface. Enzymatic treatment led to a decrease in the dyeing rate in the case of C.I acid blue 113 and slight increase in the case of C.I. direct red 81, whereas the final exhaustion of both dyes decreased. This behaviour has been attributed to a more pronounced digestion of amorphous fibre areas. All samples showed similar and low colourfastness values, which were considered as satisfactory, taking into account that the cold dyeing procedure was carried out.