DEVELOPMENT OF AN ALTERNATIVE NATURAL DYE FROM PHILIPPINE TEAK LEAVES (Tectona philippinensis)

Abstract

This study focused on the development of an alternative natural dye from Philippine teak leaves (Tectona philippinensis). The leaves were boiled for one hour using tap water as the solvent for extraction of natural dye. The extracted dye was reddish in color. Quantitative determination revealed that 10.95g (1.095%) of powder dye was produced for every one kilogram of dye sample with 30 liters of water. Different shades of colors appeared when the dye was applied to cotton, linen, jusi, piña-seda and silk cocoon using different mordants. The dyed fabrics were subjected to colorfastness to washing, perspiration and sunlight using Launder-O-Meter, Incubator and Atlas Ci+3000 Xenon Weather-O-Meter. Results showed that it is acceptable to technical evaluators from Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) in terms of Colorfastness to Laundering, Perspiration, and Light. It was concluded that the dye extracted from Teak leaves can be a good source of natural dye and can produce different shades of colors using different kinds of fabrics and mordant, and is useful as a substitute for synthetic dyes.