Chapters authored
Fundamentals of Natural Dyes and Its Application on Textile Substrates
The meticulous environmental standards in textiles and garments imposed by countries cautious about nature and health protection are reviving interest in the application of natural dyes in dyeing of textile materials. The toxic and allergic reactions of synthetic dyes are compelling the people to think about natural dyes. Natural dyes are renewable source of colouring materials. Besides textiles it has application in colouration of foods, medicine and in handicraft items. Though natural dyes are ecofriendly, protective to skin and pleasing colour to eyes, they are having very poor bonding with textile fibre materials, which necessitate mordanting with metallic mordants, some of which are not eco friendly, for fixation of natural dyes on textile fibres. So the supremacy of natural dyes is somewhat subdued. This necessitates newer research on application of natural dyes on different natural fibres for completely eco friendly textiles. The fundamentals of natural dyes chemistry and some of the important research work are therefore discussed in this review article.
Part of the book: Chemistry and Technology of Natural and Synthetic Dyes and Pigments
Photochromic Dyes for Smart Textiles
Photochromism is a light induced reversible color change phenomenon in photochromic molecule due to light and heat effect and molecular species exist in two forms which have different absorption spectra. The fascinating color change by photochromic molecules in response to specific wavelength of light produces number of applications such as U.V. protective fabrics, ophthalmic photochromic lenses, optical data storing, optical switch, sensors and display. This chapter provides a brief and conclusive review of photochromism their mechanism and application in Textiles. Although photochromic materials are in use since 1960 in lenses and sunglasses, but the development is slow due to technical difficulties and poor commercial application. Now there is renewed interest in photochromic materials which are used in nanofibers in smart textiles and in allied items.
Part of the book: Dyes and Pigments