Plant-Derived Mordants Fastness Results

In my previous blog, I promised to post the results of my lightfastness tests of my initial experiment to extract metal salt mordants from local bioaccumulator species, using locally foraged acidic plants.

Here is a link to the presentation I gave in October 2020 to the UK Royal Society of Chemistry’s online Biodyes Interface Conference, in which I explain, in detail, my methodology, findings, conclusions, and some next steps.

Here are the lightfast tests from Rubia tinctorum and Coreopsis tinctoria, after 3 months in a south-facing window during Winter…

Rubia tinctorum. L:R linen, organic cotton, wool, silk. Top: my plant-derived mordant method. Botton: traditional methods (see previous blog post).

Coreopsis tinctoria. L:R linen, organic cotton, wool, silk. Top: my plant-derived mordant method. Botton: traditional methods (see previous blog post).

I would like to thank the UK’s Royal Society of Chemistry for sponsoring this online conference, and Dr Jenny Oliver (https://www.kentishdyes.co.uk), who organized the conference and invited me to present. There were many fascinating presentations, and you can watch all of them here.

I am continuing these experiments, with new variables and refinements, and will continue to share my results here. Please feel free to leave comments and questions.

How To Cite This Study:

Sweetnam, M. (2020). Plant Derived Mordants. Mamie’s Schoolhouse. https://www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/blogarchive/2020/11/23/plant-derived-mordants-fastness-results

© 2020, Mel Sweetnam. All rights reserved.