Dyeing of nylon fabrics with natural sumac dye using recycled feather keratin

In this research, the dyeing of nylon fabrics with sumac as a natural dye was investigated and the effect of keratin treatment on the dyeing properties was studied. For this purpose, first keratin was extracted from chicken feathers by the reduction hydrolysis method, and then surface modification of nylon fabric with the extracted keratin was performed via the exhaustion method. The chemical structure of the treated fabrics was evaluated by FTIR and the results proved the successful keratin treatment on the surface of the fabrics. The obtained results showed high dye absorption of keratin-treated fabric in comparison with mordant-treated and untreated fabrics. Thus, keratin could be used for enhancing the absorption of natural dyes. Colorfastness properties of the dyed fabrics with sumac were evaluated and high washing and rubbing fastness were attained. Finally, the antibacterial properties of the dyed fabrics against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were performed and the results showed the antibacterial activity of sumac.