Dyeing and Antibacterial Properties of Chemically Recycled PET Thermal-Bonded Nonwovens Dyed with Terminalia chebula Dye

Waste recycling is a necessary step for environmental conservation. To this end, polyester can be easily collected and recycled into end products. To promote the use of recycled polyester, it is important to expand its range of applications. We earlier reported the fabrication of recycled polyester thermal-bonded nonwovens. In this study, recycled nonwoven fabrics were dyed with Terminalia chebula dye without the use of additional mordants. To optimize the dyeing conditions, the dyeing time, dyeing temperature, and liquor concentration were varied, and the color strength, color changes, fastness properties, thermal stability, and morphology were evaluated. Further, the antibacterial activity of the dyed nonwoven was also estimated. T. chebula dyed the colored recycled rapid melting PET fiber (R-RM) nonwoven brown via the dyeing process, and the dyeablity was improved by increasing the dyeing temperature, time, and liquor concentration. The rubbing and sweat fastness properties were found to be excellent. T. chebula dye imparted efficient antibacterial properties to the R-RM nonwovens against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia. The results obtained in this study are expected to broaden the range of natural dyed recycled polyester fabric applications.