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Tie-Dyeing with Tannins and Iron

Tie-Dyeing with Tannins and Iron
Contributors
Julian Silverman
Assistant Professor | Fashion Institute of Technology
Top image: orange fabric mordanted with iron, bottom image: an orange and blue striped cotton handkerchief
Summary
This laboratory experiment uses tannins from acorns and iron from rusted metal to color cotton fabrics. It explores renewable dyes, oxidation and reduction reactions, and the creation of organometallic coordination polymers from waste resources. It's suited for introductory and non-major students but can be extended into upper-level undergraduate courses as well.

It's well suited for the fall where students can collect plant matter to dye with, and generates oranges, reds, blues, and blacks perfect for the Halloween and autumn seasons.

By using renewable and waste feedstocks, you can address green principles while having some fun tie-dyeing in the lab.
Keyword Tags
Dyes
Mordants
Tie-Dye
Renewable Feedstocks
Lab Experiment
File (PDF, PPT, image, etc)
gctlc_-tie-dyeing-with-tannins-and-iron-silverman.pdf
Link to external
Google Docs Version of "Tie-Dyeing with Tannins and Iron"
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.59877/SQGM1012
Learning Goals/Student Objectives
Extract dyes from renewable feedstocks: oak leaves and acorn caps

Shift the color of fabrics using a mordant solution from waste resources: rusted iron metal

Use the Munsell system to evaluate the colors from a pattern on fabric using the dye, mordant, and resists to achieve four colors

Object Type
Laboratory experiment
Assessments
Audience
High School (Secondary School)
Introductory Undergraduate
Common pedagogies covered
Hands-on learning
Green Chemistry Principles
Waste Prevention
Design for Energy Efficiency
Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Responsible Consumption and Production
Safety Precautions, Hazards, and Risk Assessment
Rusted iron metal should be handled with gloves before adding to the vinegar solution. Oak leaves and acorns should be dried before use and extraneous debris removed before processing. Tannic acid and iron acetate solutions are safe to handle with gloves, goggles, and a lab coat. When heating liquids care should be taken because the solution can stain fabrics. Wash fabrics with soap and dry before use. A test strip of dyed and mordanted fabrics should be worn as a bracelet for one week to check for any adverse reaction of the skin before fabrics are worn.
Teacher Recommendations or Piloting Data (if available)
Test this out beforehand, the colors will vary based on the leaves and the iron. It takes about two weeks to generate a strong iron mordant. You can use old cotton T-shirts (they don't need to be white) to dye. It also works well with other natural fibers such as wool and silk. A variety of different natural plants work with the iron mordant, including marigolds, onion skins, and avocado pits. Use what you have!

You can have the students collect the leaves, or instead use tannic acid powder and create a brown solution instead. Similarly, a mixture of iron acetate or iron sulfate can be used as the mordant without waiting two weeks.

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Submitted by

Julian Silverman
Reviewed by
John De Backere
Published on
Moderation state
Published
Collection
K-12 Community Favorites
Time required (if applicable)
2 hours
Related Learning Objects
Make Sustainable Fabrics from Seaweed
Other notes/information
Material in the PDF:

Laboratory Manual
Extra Credit Assignment (Foraging for Acorns and Oak Leaves)
Pre/Post Lab Assessment
Suggested Reading for Natural Dyes and Fabrics
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.