Effect of Plasma /Copper Oxide Nanoparticles on Silk Fabric Printability with Some Natural Dyes Using Ultraviolet Fixation

This study investigated the effect of treatment with Nano copper oxide and Cu NPs in the form of sonicated copper sulfate after O2 plasma treatment on the printability of silk fabric. The silk fabric was treated with various concentrations (0.5-1.5 wt %) of CuO NPs using the padding technique, squeezing to 100 % pick up, and then thermal treated at 120 degrees C for 30 min. The treated silk was printed with some natural dyes such as coffee, deer blood, and red cabbage dyes. The printability of the treated fabric was evaluated by measuring the color strength (K/S) as well as its fastness properties. The results showed that the treatments with plasma/ CuO NPs as well as CuSO4 improved the printability of silk fabric with the aforementioned natural dyes. A higher concentration of CuO NPs after O2 plasma treatment resulted in higher color strength and color fastness. The use of natural dyes also resulted in a unique range of color shades and hues, which are not possible with synthetic dyes. This study highlights the potential of natural dyes for enhancing the printability of silk fabric and providing a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic dyes.