UV–Visible–NIR camouflage textiles with natural plant based natural dyes on natural fibre against woodland combat background for defence protection

Abstract

Abstract Woodland combat background (CB) is a common source of natural plant based natural dyes (NPND). Swietenia Macrophylla, Mangifera Indica, Terminalia Arjuna, Corchorus Capsularis, Camellia Sinensis, Azadirachta Indica, Acacia Acuminata, Areca Catechu and Cinnamomum Tamala were dried-grinded-powdered-extracted-polyaziridine encapsulated-dyed-coated-printed with leafy design on cotton fabric and tested against woodland CB under the reflection engineering of ultraviolet (UV)–visible (Vis)–near infrared (NIR) spectrums and photographic versus chromatic techniques of Vis imaging. The reflection properties of NPND treated and untreated cotton fabric were experimented by UV–Vis–NIR spectrophotometer from 220 to 1400 nm. Six segments of field trialling for NPND treated woodland camouflage textiles were also investigated for concealment, detection, recognition and identification of target signature against forest plants/herbs species; common tree of woodland CB such as Shorea Robusta Gaertn, Bamboo Vulgaris, Musa Acuminata; and a wooden bridge made by Eucalyptus Citriodora & Bamboo Vulgaris. The imaging properties such as CIE L*, a*, b* and RGB (red, green, blue) of NPND treated cotton-garments were captured by digital camera from 400 to 700 nm against tree stem/bark, dry leaves, green leaves and dry wood of woodland CB. Therefore, a colorful matching for concealment, detection, recognition and identification of target signature against woodland CB was verified by Vis camera imaging and UV–Vis–NIR reflection mechanism. UV-protection property of Swietenia Macrophylla treated cotton fabric was also investigated by diffuse reflection for defence clothing. Simultaneous ‘camouflage textiles in UV–Vis–NIR’ and ‘UV-protective’ property of Swietenia Macrophylla treated fabric have been investigated for NPND materials-based textiles coloration (dyeing-coating-printing) which is a new concept for camouflage formulation of NPND dyed-NPND mordanted-NPND coated-NPND printed textiles in terms of ecofriendly source of woodland camouflage materials. Therefore, technical properties of NPND materials and methodologies of camouflage textile assessment have been advanced in addition to coloration philosophy of natural dyed-coated-printed textiles.