Coloring of Woolen Fabrics with Natural Resources and Investigating the Color Perceptions of Children on These Fabrics

ABSTRACT

Today, the rate of watching videos by children is quite high. These videos they watch give subliminal messages to children. In this study, the color selection changes of children were investigated with the help of videos shot with these fabrics using fabrics colored with plant sources. Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum were used as natural dyestuffs in the coloring of woolen fabrics. In the dyeing experiments carried out according to the together mordanting method, plant sources were used directly without any pre-treatment. As a result of the dyeing experiments, the color values of the washed and dried fabrics were measured and ICP-MS and FTIR analyzes were performed. In addition to these, washing and rubbing fastness tests and antibacterial effect tests of woolen fabrics dyed with plant sources were also carried out. Also, SEM images of dyed fabric samples were also examined. As a result of these tests, it has been determined that Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum can be used as a natural dyestuff source for woolen fabrics. In addition, the videos that were shown to the children within the scope of the study affected the perceptions of the children and caused them to change their color choices.

摘要

如今，儿童观看视频的比率相当高. 他们观看的这些视频向孩子们传达了潜意识的信息. 在本研究中，通过使用植物来源着色的织物拍摄这些织物的视频，调查儿童的颜色选择变化. 丹参和百里香被用作羊毛织物染色的天然染料. 在根据中间媒染法进行的染色实验中，直接使用植物源，无需任何预处理. 作为染色实验的结果，测量了洗涤和干燥织物的颜色值，并进行了ICP-MS和FTIR分析. 此外，还对植物源染色的毛织物进行了洗涤、摩擦牢度试验和抗菌效果试验. 此外，还检查了染色织物样品的SEM图像. 这些试验的结果表明，丹参和百里香可作为羊毛织物的天然染料来源. 此外，在研究范围内向孩子们播放的视频会影响孩子们的感知，并导致他们改变颜色选择.

KEYWORDS:

• Children
• color
• perception
• wool
• natural dye
• antibacterial effect

关键词:

• 儿童
• 颜色
• 知觉
• 羊毛
• 天然染料
• 抗菌效果

Introduction

Perception is defined as “a process by which individuals select, organize and interpret their sensory impressions so as to give meaning to their environment” (Agarwal 2009). On the other hand Perception management is a multidisciplinary notion and is important as a method typically used in fields such as communication, psychology, business and political science. Perception management is one of the propaganda methods that is mostly used to bring masses to the desired point. The primary aim is to enable individuals to reach the desired result with their own will by influencing their emotions, motives, and aims. It can be dedicated to by different names such as psychological operation, soft power, perception management, public diplomacy, public relations and marketing. (Derman 2021). Appropriate messages are delivered to target audiences by means of “perception management” techniques through mass media, which are considered to have powerful effects; It is ensured that people are directed toward the targets determined in line with their wishes and needs. Within the framework of perception management, besides the press, television and radio, technological tools such as the internet and social media are used. The psychological power of the media on the masses is effective in the management of “perceptions”(Utma 2018).

In the era of the industrial revolution with the increased demand for sustainable products, the use of natural products particularly herbal-based bio-colorants in every walk of life is increasing (Adeel et al. 2021a). In early human history, natural dyes were utilized for dyeing leather, food, plastics, and natural fibers like cotton, silk, and wool as these have complete shades, level dyeing, and lustrous (Arifeen et al. 2021). In particular, natural dyeing, which has caught up with new trends in recent times, has gained importance in this regard (Bahtiyari and Yılmaz 2018). Because of the increasing awareness of environmental effects, the ecological effects, and the pollution caused by synthetic dyes (Adeel et al. 2021b). Also some natural dyes are abundant, easily accessible, less harmful to the human health and nature, and possess a wide range of functional applications (Haji and Rahimi 2020). They can be obtained from vegetable, animal or mineral origin (Haji, Nasiriboroumand, and Qavamnia 2018).

Textile is one of the few industries that has a profound demand all over the world. This industry plays a significant role in the world economy, by contributing to the industrial development, export earnings and employment generation (Andra et al. 2021). Nowadays, one of the most promising fields of new textile materials is the manufacturing of antimicrobial-acting medical textiles. In fact, extensive work is being put into improving substances and procedures that could provide safe and adequate protection against various microorganisms (El-Hady et al. 2021). The inclusion of microbiological properties in textile materials is a current and well-investigated research topic; several works were carried out for this purpose during the last decade (Belkhir et al. 2021). Because during storage and usage, microorganisms grow on fabrics which led to undesirable odors, discoloration, reduction in fabric strength, and other undesirable effects (Kamel and Hassabo 2021). At the same time, the existence of bacteria can cause people to be infected with various diseases, posing a tremendous threat to human health (Li et al. 2021). Antibacterial textiles have attracted great attention in the health protection of human body and medical care due to their importance and indispensability for inhibiting the growth and reproduction of microorganisms such as the bacteria and fungus, thus reducing the incidence of infectious diseases (Ye et al. 2021).

Natural fibers such as cotton, hemp, silk, and so on are widely used in furniture, medical treatment, clothing, and other fields because of their lightweight, softness, non-stickiness, and other characteristics (Gao et al. 2021). Antimicrobial textiles are functionally active textiles, which may kill the microorganisms or inhibit their growth (Gulati, Sharma, and Sharma 2021).

Salvia officinalis is a member of the family Lamiaceae. It is a traditional medicinal herb that is characterized as a perennial low shrub originating in the Mediterranean region. Its family is known to comprise over 900 species (Delamare et al. 2007; Mendes et al. 2020). Numerous studies have shown a positive effect of various sage (Salvia Officinalis L.) extracts on human health. Sage is a good source of antioxidant compounds, carnosic acid and carnosol being the prominent ones. So it has a good antibacterial effect. (Pavic et al. 2019)

Thymus Serpyllum is a well-known as wild thyme and it, is native to Mediterranean Europe and North Africa, mainly at the higher altitudes. It is acknowledged for use in various traditional home remedies (Nikolic et al. 2014). Wild thyme having high levels of essential oils and polyphenolic compounds, which are either phenolic acids or flavonoids reported as responsible for high radical scavenger potential and anti-inflammatory activity (Brezoiu et al. 2020). This includes compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, hypoglycemic and hematological effects (Sojic et al. 2020).

Within the scope of the study, it is aimed to transfer the antibacterial effects of Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum to woolen fabrics.

Material and method

Material

Within the scope of the study, 100% woolen weaving fabrics with a weight of 160 g/m² were used. The whiteness degree of wool fabric is 51.13 stensby. Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum shown in Figure 1 were used in the dyeing experiments. Plant sources were ground before dyeing experiments. The ground plant sources were used directly in the dyeing experiments without any pre-treatment.

Figure 1. Plant sources used in dyeing experiments.

Three different mordant materials were used in dyeing experiments. These are tin chloride (SnCl₂.2 H₂O − 3.5%), copper (II) sulfate (CuSO₄.5 H₂O − 3.5%) and potassium aluminum sulfate (KAlSO₄.10 H₂O − 25%).

Method

Dyeing experiments of woolen fabrics using Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum were made using mordant material and without using mordant material. Dyeing experiments using mordant material were carried out according to the together mordanting method. The plant resources used in the dyeing experiments were used in proportion to the fabric weight at a ratio of 1:2. In addition, the plant sources used in the dyeing experiments were used directly without any pretreatment (such as the extraction process). During the dyeing process, the liquor ratio was adjusted to 1:55. The dyeing process was carried out according to the dyeing graph in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Dyeing graph.

When the dyeing graph in Figure 2 is examined, it is seen that the dyeing process started at 30°C and continued for 7 minutes at this temperature. Afterwards, it was reached to 95°C in 32.5 minutes. At this temperature, the dyeing process was continued for 50 minutes. After the dyeing process was completed, the washing process was started. In the washing process, firstly, a 1 minute pre-rinse process was performed and then the main washing process was started at 45°C for 5 minutes. Finally, the washing process was completed with the last rinsing step of 1 minute. The dyed and washed woolen fabric samples were left to dry at room temperature.

CIE L*a*b*C* h° and K/S values of dyed, washed and dried fabric samples were measured (with Konica Minolta 3600 d Spectrophotometer). In addition, washing (ISO 105-C10 (2006) in test condition of Test A (1)) and rubbing (ISO 105-X12 (2002) fastness tests, antibacterial effect tests (ASTM E2149–01)) and ICP-MS analyzes were also carried out. In addition to these, SEM images (with Zeiss Sigma 300) of Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum dyed fabrics were taken and FTIR analyzes (with Bruker VERTEX 70 v) were also performed.

Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29,213) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, ATCC 25,922) bacteria were used in the antibacterial effect tests of dyed wool fabric samples.

Perception management with videos

Within the scope of the study, the color choice preferences of children were examined with the help of fabrics colored with plant sources. In this context, at first, the children were asked to choose the colors obtained without any external intervention, taking into account their free will. Afterwards, the pre-taken guiding videos were shown to the children. Thus, children’s color selection preference changes were examined.

Within the scope of the study, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 children aged 4–7, determined by the snowball sampling method. The age and gender distribution of the children in the sample group is presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Gender and age distribution of children.

Gender/Age	4 Age	5 Age	6 Age	7 Age
Girl	3	2	1	2
Boy	1	3	2	1

Result and discussion

In this study, dyeing experiments of woolen fabrics were carried out with the help of 3 different mordant substances using Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum plant sources. Color measurements of dyed woolen fabrics were made with the help of spectrophotometer and presented in Table 2.

Table 2. CIE L*a*b*c* and h° Values of Dyed Samples and Photographs.

Plant Source	Mordant		CIE L*a*b* (D65)					Colour
		K/S	L*	a*	b*	C*	h^o
Salvia officinalis	Without Mordant	9.03	62.28	2.66	28,87	28,99	84,74
	Copper (II) sulfate	16.74	50.33	2.18	31.63	31.71	86.06
	Tin (II) chloride	21.64	67.32	2.21	48.04	48.09	87.37
	Potassium aluminum sulfate	15.79	62.88	2.16	42.55	42.6	87.09
Thymus serpyllum	Without Mordant	8.2	62.52	5.15	27.94	28.41	79.56
	Copper (II) sulfate	17,74	51	3.47	34.63	34.8	84.27
	Tin (II) chloride	24.39	66.48	5.16	51.76	52.02	84.31
	Potassium aluminum sulfate	10.11	66.07	2.97	36.61	36.73	85.36

Brown, yellow and khaki colors were obtained in dyeing experiments using Salvia Officinalis. For example, in the dyeing experiment using tin (II) chloride mordant, a* = 2.21, b* = 48.04 and h^o = 87.37 were measured. The color appears as yellow. In another example, copper (II) sulfate was used as a mordant and was measured as a* = 2.18, b* = 31.63 and h^o = 86.06. In this dyeing experiment, the color is perceived as khaki.

Light brown, khaki and yellow colors were obtained in the dyeing experiments of woolen fabrics made using Thymus Serpyllum. For example, in the dyeing experiment of woolen fabrics made without using any mordant, a* = 5.15, b* = 27.94 and h^o = 79.56 were measured. In this dyeing experiment, the color revealed on the wool fabric is perceived as light brown. In another dyeing experiment, tin (II) chloride mordant material was used. In this dyeing experiment, a* = 5.16, b* = 51.76 and h^o = 84.31 were measured and the color is perceived as yellow.

In the dyeing experiments with Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum, the highest K/S value was obtained in the dyeing experiment using the tin (II) chloride mordant of the Thymus Serpyllum plant source. This value was measured as 24.39. The lowest K/S value was measured as 8.2. This value was reached in the dyeing experiment performed without using any mordant material with Thymus Serpyllum plant source.

The L* values of the woolen fabrics dyed using Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum were also measured. As a result of this measurement, the lowest L* value was measured as 50.33. This value was reached in the dyeing experiment using copper (II) sulfate mordant of the Salvia Officinalis plant. The highest L* value was measured as 67.32 in dyeing experiments with woolen fabrics. This value was obtained in the dyeing experiment with the tin (II) chloride mordant substance of the Salvia Officinalis plant source.

Washing and rubbing fastness results of woolen fabrics dyed with 3 different mordant using Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum are presented in Table 3. In dyeing experiments using Salvia Officinalis plant, very good results were obtained in terms of both washing and rubbing fastness. When the washing fastness test results were examined, a value of 5 was reached in all dyeing experiments, except the dyeing test with alum mordant, in terms of both color change and staining on fibers values. In the dyeing experiment with alum mordant, the color change value was found to be 4, while the staining on fibers value was found to be 5. When the rubbing fastness test results of the woolen fabrics dyed using Salvia Officinalis plant were examined, the rubbing fastness test result of the fabric dyed using tin mordant was obtained as 4–5, while the rubbing fastness test results of the other dyeing experiments were measured as 5. This reveals that the rubbing fastness test results of wool fabrics dyed with Salvia Officinalis plant are generally good.

Table 3. Washing and Rubbing Fastness of Dyed Samples.

Mordant	Salvia officinalis			Thymus serpyllum
	Washing		Rubbing (Dry)	Washing		Rubbing (Dry)
Without Mordant	C.C	5	5	C.C	4-5	5
	Sta.	5		Sta.	5
CuSO4.5 H2O	C.C	5	5	C.C	4-5	5
	Sta.	5		Sta.	5
SnCl2.2 H2O	C.C	5	4-5	C.C	5	4-5
	Sta.	5		Sta.	5
KAlSO4.10 H2O	C.C	4	5	C.C	4	5
	Sta.	5		Sta.	5

Sta.: Staining on fibers; C.C.: Color Change.

In dyeing experiments using Thymus Serpyllum, it was observed that good results were obtained in terms of washing and rubbing fastness. While the lowest value is 4 in terms of washing fastness, the highest value is 5 in terms of both color change and staining on fibers. The lowest value of 4 reached in the washing fastness test was obtained in the dyeing experiment using alum mordant. This result is the color change value. When the rubbing fastness test results were examined, it was observed that very good results were obtained. Except for the dyeing test using tin mordant, the rubbing fastness test results of the other dyeing experiments were obtained as 5. In the dyeing experiment using tin mordant, a good result of 4–5 value, which is close to the others, was obtained.

The antibacterial effect test results of woolen fabrics dyed with 2 different plant sources (Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum) using mordant material and without using mordant material are presented in Table 4. In addition, antibacterial effect test was carried out on wool fabric that has not undergone dyeing. As a result of the antibacterial effect test, it was seen that the woolen fabric that has not undergone any dyeing process does not have an antibacterial effect against 2 different bacterial species (Staphylococcus Aureus and Escherichia Coli) .

Table 4. Antibacterial effect test results of the dyed samples.

Salvia Officinalis	Bacteria Type
	Staphylococcus Aureus	Escherichia Coli
Undyed wool fabric	0%	0%
Dyed without use of any mordanting agent	99.99%	0%
Dyed with use of CuSO4.5 H2O	99.99%	99.99%
Dyed with use of SnCl2.2 H2O	99.99%	99.99%
Dyed with use of KAlSO4.10 H2O	99.99%	99.99%
Thymus Serpyllum
Undyed wool fabric	0%	0%
Dyed without use of any mordanting agent	99.99%	0%
Dyed with use of CuSO4.5 H2O	99.99%	99.99%
Dyed with use of SnCl2.2 H2O	99.99%	99.99%
Dyed with use of KAlSO4.10 H2O	99.99%	99.99%

When the antibacterial effect test results in Table 4 are examined, it has been seen that good results were obtained in the dyeing experiments using Salvia Officinalis. In all dyeing experiments using mordant material, 99.99% antibacterial effect was detected against both Staphylococcus Aureus and Escherichia Coli bacteria. In the dyeing experiment performed without using mordant, 99.99% antibacterial effect was detected against Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria, while no antibacterial effect was obtained against Escherichia Coli bacteria.

When the antibacterial effect tests in Table 4 of the dyeing experiments using Thymus Serpyllum plant were examined, it was seen that similar results were obtained with the antibacterial effect tests obtained in the dyeing experiments with Salvia Officinalis plant. For example, 99.99% antibacterial effect was determined against both Staphylococcus Aureus and Escherichia Coli bacteria in all dyeing experiments using mordant. In the dyeing experiment performed without using mordant, 99.99% antibacterial effect was obtained against Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria, while no antibacterial effect was observed against Escherichia Coli bacteria.

ICPMS analyzes of Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum plant sources were performed on Agilent 7800 brand device and the results are presented in Table 5. As a result of the literature search, it was reported that Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum have antibacterial activity. It is thought that Al, Cr, Fe, Cu and Sn metals, as well as many substances in the structure of 2 different plant sources, support the antibacterial effects of these plant sources. In other words, it is thought that these metals in the structure play a role in the damage of bacteria.

Table 5. ICP-MS Analysis of the Salvia officinalis and Thymus serpyllum.

Salvia officinalis	Al	401.70 ppm
	Cr	1.78 ppm
	Fe	365.40 ppm
	Cu	6.65 ppm
	Sn	131.94 ppm
Thymus serpyllum	Al	651.33 ppm
	Cr	1.04 ppm
	Fe	505.90 ppm
	Cu	4.74 ppm
	Sn	119.01 ppm

SEM images were obtained with Zeiss Sigma 300 device. With the help of this device, the surface appearance differences between the Salvia officinalis and Thymus serpyllum and the woolen fabric dyed using 3 different mordant materials and the untreated woolen fabric were examined. When Table 6 is examined, no significant difference was detected in the analyzed SEM images compared to the untreated fabric. In other words, plant sources and mordant materials used in the dyeing experiments of woolen fabrics did not cause any negative effects on the fabric surface. This has indeed produced a positive result for these dyeing experiments.

Table 6. SEM Views of the Wool Fabrics.

Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIR) analyzes of wool fabrics dyed with Salvia officinalis and Thymus serpyllum were made with the help of Bruker VERTEX 70 v brand device. Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy analysis results of woolen fabric samples dyed using Salvia officinalis and Thymus serpyllum are presented in Table 7. When the FTIR results in Table 7 were examined, it was determined that there was no significant difference in the FTIR analysis between the woolen fabrics dyed with or without mordant using Salvia officinalis and Thymus serpyllum and the untreated woolen fabric. In other words, dyeing processes with and without mordant applied to wool fabrics did not cause a significant difference in terms of FTIR.

Table 7. FTIR of Dyed Woolen Fabrics.

Children’s color choice preference results

Within the scope of the study, woolen fabrics colored with plant sources were used in the color preference analysis of children. When these colored woolen fabrics were shown to the children, it was observed that all children chose yellow color regardless of age and gender. Later, when the videos containing one by one orientation to the khaki color were shown to the children, it was observed that all the children chose the khaki color regardless of age and gender. When the children were asked why they changed their color preferences, it was observed that they used the guiding expressions in the videos. Thus, it was determined that the videos that were made to be watched by the children within the scope of the study completely changed the color preferences of the children by affecting their perceptions.

Conclusion

Especially in the media, videos have an important place in perception management. Children, on the other hand, are more vulnerable than adults in terms of being affected by videos. In other words, they are more influenced by the messages given in the videos. Within the scope of the study, the color choices of children were examined with the help of woolen fabrics colored using Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum. Before watching the guide videos, the children generally chose the yellow color, and after watching the video, they chose the khaki color. In other words, the shooted videos gave successful results in perception management. When the study is examined in terms of textile applications, it has been determined that Salvia Officinalis and Thymus Serpyllum plants can be used as a natural dyestuff source for woolen fabrics and that they can provide antibacterial effects to woolen fabrics. Thus, it is aimed to increase the interest in natural resources today with the help of this study.

Highlights

• Change in children’s perception of color selection

• The use of natural resources in coloring

• Obtaining natural antibacterial agent for woolen fabrics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).