Printing with Natural Dye Extracted from Impatiens glandulifera Royle

Invasive alien plants that damagingly overgrow native ecosystems can be beneficially used to produce natural dyes. Natural dyes are healthier and more environmentally friendly than synthetic dyes, so their use on textiles and other products that come into contact with humans is desirable. In this study, the possibility of using a natural dye extracted from the purple petals of the invasive plant Impatiens glandulifera Royle (Himalayan balsam) for screen printing on various substrates; woven fabrics and different papers made from virgin fibers, recycled fibers, and from fibers of Japanese knotweed, was investigated. The prints were evaluated by color measurements and fastness properties. With the violet dye extract, purple-brown prints were obtained on papers made from Japanese knotweed, and more brown prints on other substrates. They had excellent rub fastness but faded significantly when exposed to light. The wash fastness of the prints on cotton fabrics was moderate and poor on polyester fabrics, but the prints had good resistance to wet ironing. The addition of acid to the printing paste resulted in a lighter violet color, the addition of alkali caused a drastic color change to green, both additives increased the light fastness of the prints but reduced the fastness on fabrics to wet treatments.