A Sustainable Innovative Approach for Low-Temperature Dyeing of Polyester Fabrics: Using Essential Oils Extracted from Plants

In this study, the use of ecological plant-based essential oils in dyeing in order to ensure low-temperature dyeing of polyester fabrics has been tried for the first time in the literature. When the structures of essential oils were analyzed, it was understood that there were oils that had the potential to loosen the structure of polyester and show a kind of carrier effect. Within the scope of the study, it was aimed to determine the degree to which the dyeing temperature of polyester fabrics with disperse dyes could be reduced without negatively affecting the color and fastness properties by dyeing processes with an essential oil at different temperatures. As a result of the studies, it was determined that when the dyeing temperature was reduced in the dyeing of polyester fabrics with disperse dyes, the dyeing efficiency decreased significantly, but when Sandalwood oil was added to the liquor, dyeing could be done at 120 °C instead of 130 °C. This situation will both be beneficial in reducing the oligomer problem encountered in polyester fabrics and energy saving will be achieved due to dyeing at lower temperatures.