Sustainable Approach to Mordant-Free Natural Dyeing of Nylon Fabric with Neem Leaf Extract

Md. Golam Azom, Md. Zulhash Uddin

Article
2026 / Volume 9 / Pages 100-119
Received 31 August 2025; Accepted 9 October 2025; Published 21 January 2026
https://doi.org/10.31881/TLR.2026.100

Abstract
The application of natural dyes in textile colouring procedures offers a viable path toward ecologically responsible and sustainable practices in the textile sector. This study was conducted to investigate the dyeing performance of nylon fabric using natural dye from neem leaf extract through a sustainable approach. Here, nylon fabric was dyed with a natural dye, neem leaf extract, without using any metallic mordant or pH buffer, which are harmful to the environment, as well as without using any natural mordant that can alter or change the actual hue of the dyed fabric. In this experiment, neem dye was extracted from neem leaves at varying concentrations using a chemical-free water extraction method. The absorption spectrum of the dye solution was measured using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. The collected grey nylon fabric was then dyed with different concentrations of the extracted dye at various temperatures, without the use of any mordant or chemicals. Following the application, the dyeing performance of the fabric was assessed by determining its colourimetric properties, including colour shade, colour strength, and colour coordinate value. Assessments of wash, water, rubbing, and light fastness performance were also carried out. Finally, FTR analysis was performed to determine dye-fibre bonding. After analysing all the results, it was found that the dyeing performance of the fabric was excellent. The results showed that colour strength increased when the dyeing temperature and dye percentage increased. In terms of colour fastness properties, including wash, water, and rubbing, the results were excellent in each case. Light fastness was slightly less for light shades, but the results for deep shades were satisfactory. Additionally, FTIR results showed good absorption of natural dye by nylon fabric and the interaction between the dye and the fabric. The results suggest that dyeing nylon fabric with neem leaf extract, without the use of metallic mordants or a pH buffer solution, is a viable method for achieving the desired dyeing results and creating a pathway toward sustainable dyeing.

Keywords
nylon fabric, neem leaf, natural dye, mordant-free dyeing