Effect of enzymatic Pre-treatment on dyeing of silk with kilmora (Berberis aristata) Dye

Hand woven khadi silk fabric was pre-treated with Silkenz DGM Liquid (proteolytic enzyme). The enzymatic conditions were optimised for pre-treatment without significantly affecting the physical properties of silk. These included pH media 8, enzyme concentration 10% (o.w.f.) and treatment time 60 minutes. The control and pre-treated samples were dyed with kilmora dye after optimising the dyeing and mordanting conditions. The effect of enzymatic pre-treatment on dyeing of silk with kilmora dye was studied by comparing the CIE LAB values and colourfastness properties. Statistically the results revealed that the enzymtically pre-treated samples were significantly darker. The light and washing fastness grades improved from poor for the control samples to fair for the enzymatically treated samples, perspiration fastness grades improved from considerable staining to noticeable staining. However, rubbing fastness grades remained same for most of the samples i.e. negligible and slight staining.