4. BioChromes¶
¶
This week has been wonderful and very enjoyable. It was a truly beautiful experience creating fabric dyes from natural resources. This is not only remarkable but also contributes to preserving the environment and promoting sustainability, helping to build a better future for the planet.
At the beginning, Claudia gave us a comprehensive and quick explanation about bio chrome, covering the materials we would use, which plants we could utilize, and the chemical reactions we could create. She also explained the resulting effects and the correct method for making them.
We also conducted our first experiment using onion peels, cabbage, and hibiscus. Initially, we soaked the fabric we wanted to dye in water and boiled it. Then, we placed the onion peels and cabbage in a pot to boil and added sodium and salt. We waited for 30 minutes after boiling the ingredients, then began dipping the fabric samples we wanted to dye. After leaving them for a day to absorb the color, we washed and dried them.
Next, we filtered the remaining water to create ink in the pigment process. We added aluminum sodium to complete the process, based on the formula: 10% aluminum and 2.5% sodium relative to the final liquid weight. We then added a filter to refine the ink and set it under the sun to dry.
We also took a trip to the forest in Amman to collect oak bark for conducting some experiments and using it in our assignment.
References & Inspiration¶
On the first day of the assignment, I researched the material I would use to extract red tones and derivatives. I discovered that turmeric, when combined with sodium, turns into a red color. .
Tools¶
Process and workflow¶
So, I conducted an experiment on turmeric before starting the boiling process and the main procedure. I tested turmeric with various substances such as iron, sodium, aluminum, copper, vinegar, and lemon. This resulted in more than 10 different colors from each experiment
As I decided to use turmeric and sodium in my experiment, I started by boiling 100 grams of turmeric. This is where I encountered my first problem: turmeric does not dissolve well in water, so I needed to filter out the turmeric powder. Initially, I tried using paper filters, but they took too long. Then, I attempted filtering through fabric, which was faster, but the fabric pores would clog due to the excessive amount of turmeric. I also tried drawing the water out with a syringe, but turmeric residue remained.
In the end, I filtered the water through a food strainer, which successfully removed all the turmeric.
After that, I created yellow and mustard colors using turmeric alone, and red by mixing turmeric with soda. Initially, I used 25 grams of soda with turmeric, but I found the color wasn’t good. Then, I added 20 more grams of soda and adjusted to two-thirds of the amount of turmeric, which finally gave me the final color.
Ingredients & Recipes¶
Documenting experiments¶
example from the documentation of Petra Garaiová FabTextiles Barcelona 2021-22
TEST 01 - SILK¶
| Material name | Fabric composition | Breathability | Moisture-wicking abilities | Heat retention abilities | Stretchability | Washing temperatures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silk | Animal fibers - silkworm insect | Highly breathable | High | Low | Low | Cool or warm |
RESULTS¶
Here are the results I achieved from dyeing various fabrics using only turmeric. I experimented with different types of natural fabrics, including wool, silk, and cotton. Each material took on a unique shade, revealing how turmeric interacts differently with each fabric’s texture.
RESULTS¶
1. turmeric¶
| recipe | turmeric | water | sodium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 700 g |
2. turmeric with sodium¶
In the second image, showing a richer, darker shade, this was my second experiment where I added extra sodium. This color is the closest to my desired result. I also did a side-by-side comparison of two samples, as shown in the image, to highlight the differences between the two tones.
| recipe | turmeric | water | sodium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 700 g | 20 g |
The second experiment¶
| recipe | turmeric | water | sodium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 700 g | 45 g |
Recycling the dye into pigments¶
Ingredients & Recipes¶
Prepare this recipe [^1] by collecting the ingredients necessary, to be found in the list below:
Initially, I filtered the remaining dye solution after the dyeing process and carefully measured it. Then, I brought it to a boil with hot water to prepare it for the next steps.
| recipe | turmeric | water | sodium | alum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 700 g | 45 g | 68 g |