Catechu is extract of Acacia tree used variously as food additive, astringent tannin and dye. It is commonly known as cutch, black cutch, cachou, khoyer and Kathy. Catechu dyed fabric imparts some or many medicinal activities. Kathy has antimicrobial properties in them. It has astringent and neutral properties. The main colouring component of this is catechin. Cutch is an important historical brown dye that comes from the heartwood of the cutch tree (Acacia catechu). This colour was produced by steeping the wood into hot water until a syrupy liquid immerses. It has high light fastness and wash fastness as well as being inexpensive. Cutch is a very rich source of tannins and excellent dye for cottons, it is also suitable for dyeing wool, silk, and cotton a yellowish- brown. Cutch gives gray-browns with an iron mordant and olive-browns with a copper mordant.
(A) Wet the fabric with wetting agent/soapnut(Reetha) or normal wash with water at 50 degree for 20 mins.
(B) Pre Mordant :- Pre-treat the material with alum 12% of fabric weight at 85°C for 60 mins.
(C) Dyeing :- Add the required amount of dye to the dye bath. PH of dye bath needs to be maintained at pH 7. If it is higher than pH, 7 add vinegar, if below pH 7, use lime or soda ash. Stir well to dissolve the dye. Add fabric to the dye bath and maintain at 95°C for 60-80 mins. We check all our natural dyes at 5% of fabric weight; you can amend the percentage as per lighter or darker shade required
(D) Post Treatment :- Conduct soaping of the dyed material with non-ionic detergent (0.5gpl) or ezee soap at 50°C for 35 mins.
(E) Then conduct cold wash of the material at 50°C for 20 mins or more time.
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