Feasibility study of dope dyeing nano cellulose acetate with weld dye

Synthetic dyes are widely used in textile dyeing due to their low cost and availability, but they cause significant environmental pollution and require high water consumption. Although natural dyes offer a sustainable alternative, they often need mordants and exhibit poor fastness properties. This study explores a waterless textile coloration of electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibers doped with weld dye, with conventionally dyed CA used as a control. Characterization through CIE L*a*b*, K/S, SEM, and FTIR analyses confirmed dye incorporation, with evidence of molecular-level interaction within the nanofibers. The dope-dyed nano-CA exhibited a yellow shade, though with lower intensity than conventional dyeing. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of dope dyeing as a sustainable alternative to traditional textile coloration.