Research on ultraviolet protection of dyed silk fabric with extracts from Clitoria ternatea flowers

This work is to evaluate ultraviolet protection of treated silk fabrics with extracts from Clitoria ternatea (CT) flowers under the effects of dyeing concentration, temperature, time, and mordanting agents (including FeSO4.7H2O, CuSO4.5H2O, and KAl(SO4)2.12H2O). The obtained results showed that ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) increased with CT concentration up to 80% on weight fabric (owf) then reached for an equilibrium behavior. The FTIR spectra were demonstrated the existence of anthocyanin content on dyed silk fabrics. Also, ultraviolet protection of dyed sample with anthocyanin of CT extracts achieved the highest UPF values at 70 °C and in 70 min. Besides, complex formation on dyed silk sample with anthocyanin dyes increased color strength (K/S) and UPF. Finally, UPF values of all treated samples without and with mordants decreased with washing cycles but it still maintained the values of 50+, thereby being excellent applications in sun-protective clothes and outdoor fabrics.