Investigation of dyeing, antibacterial and antifungal properties of blended fabrics treated with plant‐based dyestuffs and mordants as shoe materials

Abstract In this research article, it is reported the preparation and characterisation of four types of blended cotton‐polyester based textile materials in different dye ratios with four kinds of natural dyes of agro waste (walnut shell, onion peel) and wildflowers (tansy, Hypericum) with/without mordants as antibacterial and antifungal species for shoe materials. The dyed samples were spectrophotometrically measured and the results were obtained as colour strength (K/S) as well as CIELab values. As a result, dyed fabrics with natural dyes showed yellow, grey, orange and brown colours. With the help of a mordant, aluminium‐potassium, the dyed fabrics obtained natural, not distorted shades of these colours, and with the addition of copper sulphate, they showed changing yellow to light green, orange to dark red, grey to a darker shade of grey and brown to a darker colour. The dyed samples were tested for colour fastness to circle rubbing and satisfactory results were found. The fabrics dyed only with natural dyes and treated with natural dye and mordants were evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal properties against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The results indicated that fabrics treated with these natural dyes and mordants had excellent antibacterial and antifungal activity. All natural dyes and mordants used in this study were the most effective and showed the maximum inhibition zone, indicating the best antimicrobial and antifungal activity against tested microbes. The results showed that all these natural dyes can provide some antibacterial and antifungal activity on mixed fabrics.