A researcher and faculty member at the Islamic Azad University of Arak in Iran has come up with a new way to dye polyester fabrics more efficiently, according to an agency report. Funded by Iran National Science Foundation (INSF), Dr. Sheila Shahidi’s approach aimed at tackling the problems in traditional dyeing methods, such as weak dyeability, high-temperature, excessive use of water, and discharge of several chemical additives. In the study, polyester fabrics were modified by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and then dyed with different classes of natural (henna, madder, lotus, and matricaria) and synthetic (acidic, basic, and disperse) dyes. The approach introduced in this work comprises the formation of functional groups on the surfaces of the polyester fabrics by using atmospheric pressure plasma. The results show that DBD modification on the surface of fabrics improved their dyeability with the extent of improvement higher in natural dyes than in synthetic ones. Moreover, without using water and chemical additives, atmospheric pressure plasma makes the process of dyeing eco- friendly.
