Development of Black Silk Dyed from Ebony Fruit (Diospyros mollis Griff) by Surface Modification of Silk Fiber with Poly (ethyleneimine)

Abstract

This study investigated the development of ebony fruit silk dyeing process in order to study the traditional dyeing process from the villagers living in Somlongtab District, Surin Province and to develop the dying process by surface modification of silk with poly (ethyleneimine) (PEI). The parameters affecting all methods were investigated and optimized such as the effect of time for the adsorption of PEI as 3, 6, 12, and 24 h with controlled concentration of PEI at 1g/l, color fastness to perspiration and the quality of dyeing. The results showed the optimal condition of time for adsorption was 12 h. The percentage of adsorbed PEI as 69.62 ± 8.6. The color of silk changed from gray to black after being dyed 4 times. The dyed silk’s color fastness to perspiration was quite good to excellent (4-5) and color resistance to fade are high quality. Therefore, the outstanding point of this work is the reduction of time for ebony fruit dyeing process.