A quantitative study of dyeing with lawsone

Bleached wool felts have been dyed with lawsone, and reflectance spectra recorded in the visible region. These spectra were converted toL.a.b. values by computer. A dissolution technique that could be operated at prearranged pH values was developed, and L.a.b. values of dyed felts were recorded before and after extraction. A theory linking dyeing performance to electrolytic dissociation of lawsone and keratin pro-tonation was developed from the results