FASTNESS PROPERTIES OF FRESH AND FERMENTED DYES EXTRACTED FROM CICHA PLANTS (INDIGOFERA TRINCTORIA) ON COTTON AND SYNTHETIC FABRICS 

 This study was designed to examine the Fastness Properties of Fresh and Fermented Dyes Extracted from „Cicha‟ Plants (Indigofera Trinctoria) on Cotton and Synthetic Fabrics (Borno State).The researcher used anindigenous plant leaves „cicha‟ one of the indigo family plants to extract dye for this work. Scarcity of dye to use in the colleges and schools in the study area was one of the motivating problem of this research. Nine (9) objectives, research questions and hypotheses were stated and tested. Related literatures were reviewed. Experimental research design was adopted and five hundred (500) grams of fresh „cicha‟ leaves is the sample of dye sourcing materials procured. All materials used in this study were collected and bought in Biu town. Fresh and fermented methods of dye extraction were adopted and used for dyeing the selected fabrics in each dye baths prepared. Cold and Hot dye were prepared with each extract of fresh and fermented dyes. All the samples of cotton and synthetic fabrics were immersed in each dye bath at the time and dyed for the same period of time. Researcher made rating scale was used for the study to rate observations. Fifteen(16) observers observed the samples to rate the colour changes that occur on the cotton and synthetic fabrics in each dye bath. Test re-test reliability for the rating scale yielded a coefficient statistics of .86 which was regarded adequate. The results of experiments were rated using 1-5 for minimum and maximum effects of dye. Chi square statistic was used at 0.05 alpha level of significance. Result shows that all null hypotheses were rejected for p-value of all the test were less than the alpha level of significance which stated statistically, there is significant difference in the effects of the mordants on cotton and synthetic fabrics dyed on the same dye bath.Among the major findings were, „cicha‟ dye extracts using mordants (alum, ash/toka, and caustic soda) was regarded good for fastening properties on cotton and synthetic fabrics. Methods adopted gave variety of colours on both synthetic and cotton fabrics developed in all the dye baths. Test on fastness, bleeding and migrating properties showed good effects of the mordants usage. Therefore, „Cicha‟ plant was recommended for dye extraction using other methods and mordants. This research using „cicha‟ have added knowledge and source of natural material to Nigerians and filled the gap of using the extracts for dyeing synthetic fabrics.