Sample Of Dye Experiments

This is basically a sample of what my experiment aims to achieve. The objectives are the same but the methods vary.

Science/Design & Technology
http://www.colour-ed.org/activity/act_06/06_index.htm

This is also a related experiment, not only comparing natural and synthetic dyes but also their effects on a range of fabrics.

Science/Design & Technology
http://www.colour-ed.org/activity/act_06/06_index.htm

So-Called Research

I havent found an experiment that is very similar to mine as of yet, so I have instead based my method on the information provided by this very helpful website.

How To Dye Fabrics At Home, Elizabeth Hardy, 2002
http://www.essortment.com/all/dyesfabrics_rasq.htm

It answered questions like:

• What equipment will I need?
• What's the difference between hot-water and cold-water dye?
• What happens after I've immersed the article in dye?
• What kind of material can I dye?

Equipment

• 50omL (approximately) natural liquid dye


• 500mL (approximately) chemical liquid dye


• 10 small pieces of (100%) cotton fabric

• 2 large pots

• 1 wooden spoon

• newspaper

• plastic gloves

Actual, Real Method

• obtain equipment


• lie newspaper down in the areas where the experiment will be conducted (dye is usually quite messy)


• wear a pair of plastic gloves


• setup equipment as shown below:

• simmer both fabrics in their respective dyes for 1hr, stirring occassionally with a wooden spoon to allow the dye to be absorbed evenly


• leave fabrics to dry, preferably indoors and not machine dried


• expose dry fabrics to the sun for one day


• record observations (similarities and differences between the resulting colours, textures, etc.)


• repeat from 'simmer both fabrics...' to last step, but replace step 'expose dry fabrics to the sun for one day' with these scenarios: wash fabrics every day for one week, leave dry fabrics out during a period of rain, machine dry fabrics every day for one week. Each scenario requires a new chemically and naturally dyed fabric.


• repeat from 'simmer both fabrics...' to last step, but apply one naturally and one chemically dyed fabric to all the scenarios listed, including 'expose dry fabrics to the sun for one day'

• tabulate final results

Climatic Graph

Materials

The natural dye I've decided to use is Henna. This is why:

• it is readily available and easy to use
  
• i am certain that it does not contain any chemical components (at least my one doesnt)
  
• it can be applied to a wide range of materials - including skin (is that a material?), hair and fabric

I think I am going to use cotton as my material. I've done some research and apparently cotton is the most evenly absorbant fabric to dye. Evidence:

http://www.dylon.com.au/dyeingeasier.htm

"100% cotton is the best candidate, as it takes colour evenly and predictably."

http://www.essortment.com//all/dyesfabrics_rasq.htm

The chemical dye is T.B.A. Watch this space to find out!

Method-ology

This is a quick outline for my experiment, which if you don't remember is a comparison between au naturale and chemical dyes.
First of all, I have to soak the material in different dyes for the same amount of time and liquid dye.

I would then leave them to dry, which should take an approximately equal amount of time.

After drying, I could apply my various tests to them. e.g exposing them to the sun for a long period of time, repeatedly washing them, leaving them out in the rain. For each test I would use a newly dyed fabric though, otherwise the final results will be affected by all the other variables. They would keep compounding, each affecting the next result.

Wait! No. For my experiment I'll use 2 fabric samples of each dye - one which is solely for the use of each applied variable and another which is subject to all variables.

Finally, I would record my observations and probably tabulate them or something...