Eco-friendly reactive dyeing of modified silk fabrics using corona discharge and chitosan pre-treatment

The aim of the current research is to study the improvement of dyeability of silk fabrics using surface modification performed by corona discharge and chitosan pre-treatment. Effects of some operational variables such as corona treatment time, concentration of chitosan, time, and temperature on grafting process were examined through dyeability of silk fabrics using two commercial reactive dyes. Fourier transform infra-red and scanning electron microscopy spectroscopy data revealed the surface modification of the silk by corona discharge and grafting of chitosan onto the silk fabric. Optimal grafting values obtained were corona treatment time 30min, concentration of chitosan 18% owf, time 2h and temperature 60 degrees C. It was found that silk pretreatment with corona discharge and chitosan improved dyeability from 1.84 to 4.58 for RY and from 3.05 to 6.40 for RB. The results indicated that the color fastness and tensile strength of silk fabrics were not significantly affected irrespective of the grafting with corona and chitosan pre-treatment. The results of this study provide the potential making of eco-friendly modification and reactive dyeing of textile fibers using corona discharge and chitosan pre-treatment.