Abstract:

Eco-friendly dye was extracted from the flowers of Plumeria rubra. This dye was applied on cotton and silk fabrics with 2%, 5% and 10% o.w.f. dye concentrations in the presence and absence of alum, tannic acid and tartaric acid mordants using the exhaustion method. The color strength, CIE lab values and fastness properties of the dyed samples were assessed. The mordants were found to influence the colour strength and fastness properties of dyed cotton and silk fabrics. Dyed samples were tested for antimicrobial activity and found to possess antibacterial activity. The flowers of Plumeria rubra offer a potential source of natural dye for cottage dyeing industry.