Abstract-This research studied the extraction of the natural dye from two different types of tamarind seed viz. sour-tamarind seed (TF) and sweet-tamarind seed (TO). The extracted dye solutions were prepared into a powder form and subsequently used for dyeing cotton and Bombyx Mori silk and Eri silk fabrics. From the experiment, the TF dye powder was easier soluble in water and could render a higher color strength than the TO dye powder. It was found for the tamarind-seed dyes that they could better exhausted on the silk fabrics than the cotton. Between the two silk fabrics, the dyes illustrated a higher degree of exhaustion on Bombyx Mori silk fabric than the Eri counterpart. The tamarind-seed dyes provide a reddish brown shade on the fabrics. This reddish brown shade could be altered when the dyed fabrics were put through the washing process. After washing, the shade of the dyed fabrics was more intense. The color fastness to washing of the dyed fabrics was in a good-excellent level. Even after experiencing 5-time washing, no significant shade change was observed on the dyed fabrics. The effect of mordants on the dyed fabrics was studied using three different mordants which were ZnSo 4 , K 2 Cr 2 O 7 and FeSo 4 . The ZnSo 4 mordant was found to enhance the color fastness to washing to the dyed fabrics without causing any shade change, while using K 2 Cr 2 O 7 as a mordant led to a shade alteration into a yellow brown but helped to stabilize the dye molecule, so such shade obtained was not sensitive to the washing condition. For the FeSo 4 mordant, it also caused the shade change on the dyed fabrics to a dull grey shade but providing an excellent color fastness to washing.

This research studied the potential and efficiency of tamarind kernel powder as a thickener for pigment printing on cotton fabric in comparison with the commercial synthetic thickener. Two kinds of tamarind seed were studied. Both of tamarind seeds contained about 30% based on dry weight of outer seed coating and 70% of dry weight of tamarind kernel powder. The approximate composition of tamarind kernel powder were 2.39 – 3.19% fat, 16.43 – 17.07% protein, 1.20 – 1.68% crude fiber and 3.42-3.74% moisture based on weight of tamarind kernel powders. Two different extraction techniques were studied viz., boiling in water and using microwave. Tamarind kernel powder extracted by microwave method was suited for use as a thickener rather than those obtained by boiling in water method. As the tamarind kernel powder from microwave method was easier dissolved and the printing paste was smoother than those from boiling in water. The optimum concentration of tamarind kernel powder for pigment printing on cotton was 5% tamarind kernel powder obtained from the seed in relatively round shape and smooth surface because the color yield and rubbing fastness was similar to the commercial synthetic thickener.