The effect of curing on the manufacturing process of ramie batik using low-energy electron beam

This study aims to determine the effect of the curing method using electron beams as an effort to substitute the fixation process using metal in the dyeing process of ramie batik. The study was conducted by combining the tegeran (Cudrania javanensis) natural dye with Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) and a small amount of alum (K₂SO_4.Al₂(SO₄)_3.24H₂O), which was then used for batik coloring. The results showed that we can use the fixation process using electron beam irradiation as an alternative in the batik dyeing process because the process is effective, efficient, and produces environmentally friendly products. The fixation irradiation dose affects the quality of the fastness of batik. At doses of 20 and 60 kGy, it has good color fastness, especially in the color fastness test to 40 oC washing and rubbing. However, the color fastness test against sunlight gave poor results. The optimal color aging value was obtained at the 60 kGy dose level with a value of 1.62. In testing the morphology of non-irradiated and irradiated ramie batik using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), imaging results showed that there were morphological changes on the surface of ramie batik. The results of the functional group analysis test using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of cross-links in ramie batik.