Optimization of Dyeing Conditions for Cotton Paddy Blended Yarn

India, being the largest producer of rice as well as of its residue, the effects from residue burning are more severe. Scientists and researchers, on the other hand, have studied the potential of various paddy straw management technologies as alternatives to paddy straw open field burning. To utilize paddy straw and help in reduction of paddy burning to some extent, cotton paddy blended yarn was developed. The motive was not only to help the state to curb this menace of straw burning but creation of employment opportunities for farm women. The present investigation was carried out to optimize the dyeing conditions for natural and reactive dyes on yarn developed from blend of cotton fibre and fibre extracted from paddy straw. Dyeing conditions viz. time and concentration were optimized on the basis of CIE Lab, K/S values and light, wash, rubbing and perspiration fastness grades for the developed yarn. It was found in the study that Optimum dyeing conditions were 2 per cent dye concentration for 60 minutes in case of natural dyes and Reactive orange, while 3 per cent dye concentration for 60 minutes for Reactive blue dye.