Black Berry as a Natural Dye: Dyeability of Proteinic Fabrics Using Some Post-Treatments

This study investigates blackberry as a natural dye source for silk and wool fabrics, combined with innovative post-dyeing treatments: thermo-fixation, microwave irradiation, and plasma treatment. Blackberry dyeing yielded rich, vibrant colors with variations in fastness properties. Thermo-fixation significantly enhanced light and wash fastness, while microwave irradia-tion reduced dye migration and improved color retention. Plasma treatment advanced performance by promoting dye-fiber inter-action through surface modification. Post-dyeing treatments significantly improved antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. Plasma treatment demonstrated superior results with 100% reduction in bacterial colonies for wool. UV protection factor (UPF) increased from 3.6 to 16.5 for silk and showed excellent protection (UPF > 40) for wool after plasma treatment. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed increased surface rough-ness post-plasma treatment, promoting dye holding. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed effective dye-fiber adhesion through detectable functional group modifications. The combination of natural dyeing with innovative post-treatment techniques improves fastness properties of silk and wool fabrics while aligning with environmental sustainability goals. This research demonstrates potential for creating high-performance, sustainable textile products with enhanced antimicro-bial activity and UV protection, contributing to superior quality and sustainability in the fashion and textile industries.