Table I.3:
Final Results of Indigo Dyeing

Alkaline Substance: NaOH (Sodium Hydroxide)
Color Results: A deep, dark blue with the occasional dark purple splotch throughout.
Colorimeter Coordinates: L: 43.8, A: .4, B: -10.3
Fastness: When wiped with a white cotton ball, hardly any of the indigo flaked off demonstrating exceptional fastness.
Explanation: The variation in color is to be expected with the imprecise dyeing vat I used to dye the material blue. The darkness in color must be due to the incredibly basic pH of the alkaline substance, and the fastness must be due to an intrinsic chemical property of the indigo dyestuff when mixed with NaOH.
Alkaline Substance: Potash, Sulfurated
Color Results: A light dusting of an almost black particle, sort of like stonewashing (in jeans).
Colorimeter Coordinates: L: 23.96, A: 3.25, B: -13.47
Fastness: When wiped with a white cotton ball, almost all the indigo flaked off onto the cotton demonstrating horrible fastness. This sample also bled onto anything it touched, from my clothing to others' experiments. When shaken, the indigo powder sifted off of the material.
Explanation: The lack of fastness and unremarkable color appears to be due to the neutral pH of the sulfurated potash, since the potash was unable to make the indigo completely water soluble.
Alkaline Substance: Lime (CaCO3)
Color Results: A medium, slate-colored blue in an almost even consistency.
Colorimeter Coordinates: L: 47.70, A: 3.25, B: -6.01
Fastness: When wiped with a white cotton ball, a fair amount of indigo powder flaked off but none flaked off onto my hands or clothing.
Explanation: The consistency of color but the lack of absolute fastness shows a compromise between the extremes of the previous two samples, as the pH is in the middle of the two samples as well.
Concluding Sentiments: The more basic the pH the better the results using this particular procedure. However, other processes of indigo dyeing may yield different results with this batch of chemicals. Smell is also a factor, as well, since interestingly enough the more basic the alkaline bath the more pungent the smell of the samples and dyevat.




Sarah Leopold, 2000.

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