Innovative multi-functional treatments of ligno-cellulosic jute fabric

This study is focused on upgrading the functional and dyeing properties of jute, an eco-friendly cellulose-rich ligno-cellulosic fiber, for its further application in diversified and value added products. Grey Jute fabric has been scoured, bleached then post-finished in absence and presence of disperse and basic dyes for imparting easy care, water repellency, a supple handle as well as UV-protecting properties into the finished and finished/dyed Jute fabrics. Factors affecting the functional and dyeing properties such as pretreatment regime, water repellent and finishing agents concentration, finishing in the absence and presence of the nominated dyestuffs as well as durability to wash have been studied. The results demonstrate that increasing the water-repellent agent, Hydrophobol® APK, concentration up to 75 g/L, finishing agent, Fixapret® Eco, concentration up to 50 g/L, using MgCl2·6H2O/citric acid as a mixed catalyst (5 g/2 g)/L, in the absence or presence of the dye (5 g/L) followed by drying at 100 °C/5 min, curing at 150 °C/min, then after washing, is accompanied by a significant enhancement in both the imparted functional and dyeing properties of the treated jute fabrics. The extent of improvement of the aforementioned properties is determined by the pretreatment sequence, i.e. scouring alone or followed by bleaching. The imparted functional properties show some reduction after five home launderings. SEM of untreated, scoured and semi-bleached then finished or finished/dyed fabric samples as well as the fastness properties of the obtained dyeings were also investigated.