Dyes and Colorants Categories
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ACID DYES |
Initially used to dye natural fibers such as cotton, wool, paper and straw. Other applications include coloring of food and drink, drugs, cosmetics, insecticides, fertilizers, wood stains, varnishes, inks and cleaning solutions. Acid dyes are anionic in nature and therefore have affinity for cationic bonding sites. Used for Wool, Nylon, Jude, Leather, Silk and acid dyeable acrylics. Over 100 acid dyes including milling, neutral-leveling and pre-metalized. Full line of acid blacks designed to meet customers specific requirements for fastness, cross stain and environmental regulations. |
BASIC DYES |
Due to poor light fastness on natural fibers, synthetic fibers such as acrylics are the basic dye application in textiles. Basic dyes are typically brilliant in color. Their charge in aqueous solutions is cationic. Other uses for basic dyes are paper where light fastness is not an issue and "topping" in the leather industry. Used for acrylic fibers, basic dyeable polyester and basic dyeable Nylon. Basic dyes produce very bright shades on mordanted Cotton, and Viscose Rayon. Over 40 basic dyes including regular and level dyeing. New line of basic dyes with excellent leveling properties. |
DIRECT DYES |
This group of anionic dyes is used to dye natural fibers in the textile industry. Typically direct dyes can be applied in either neutral or slightly alkaline baths at or near the boil. Paper and the leather industry are also areas where these dyes are used extensively. There are a few dyes of this classification used in other applications such as for coloring soap solutions and to manufacture biological stains. Used for acrylic fibers, Cotton, Rayon and Flax. Direct Dyes are employed for colouration of Cellulosics, Paper, Leather, Silk, Jute, Viscose, etc. These are employed for production of economical shades. |
DISPERSE DYES |
These dyes do not dissolve in water but are dispersions in aqueous solutions. The particle size is such that they appear to dissolve. The dyes are made to include dispersing agents to keep the particles in solution. This class of dyes is used to dye nylon, triacetate, polyesters and acrylics. Additional applications of the dyes are the surface dying of selected thermoplastics. Used for polyester or acetate fibers and nylon. Dyes of this class are suitable for dyeing and printing of man-madew fibres. Low, medium and high energy. Over 50 dyes for all fastness requirements. |
MORDANT DYES |
A mordant is a substance used to set dyes on fabrics or tissue sections by forming a coordination complex with the dye which then attaches to the fabric or tissue. It may be used for dyeing fabrics, or for intensifying stains in cell or tissue preparations. The term mordant comes from the Latin word, "mordere", to bite. Used in Wool, Silk, polyamide and printing of wool and silk. |
REACTIVE DYES |
Reactive dyeing is the most important method for the coloration of cellulosic fibres. Reactive dyes can also be applied on wool and nylon; in the latter case they are applied under weakly acidic conditions. Reactive dyes have a low utilization degree compared to other types of dyestuff, since the functional group also bonds to water, creating hydrolysis.
Used for Cotton fibers and Rayon.Vinyl sulfones, hot dyeing and bi-functionals. These dyes react with cellulose fibre to produce dyeing and printing of all round fastness. Over 70 dyes to meet customer requirements for shade, fastness and equipment. |
SOLVENT DYES |
A solvent dye is a dye soluble in organic solvents. It is usually used as a solution in an organic solvent. Solvent dyes are used to color organic solvents, hydrocarbon fuels, waxes, lubricants, plastics, and other hydrocarbon-based nonpolar materials. Fuel dyes are one use of solvent dyes. Their molecules are typically nonpolar or little polar, and they do not undergo ionization. They are insoluble in water. They form a colloidal solution in solvents.They have poor (basic dyes) to good (metal complex based) light fastness. Used for gold imitation (and other transparent metallic effects) of metallized polyester films. Also used in marking inks, inkjet inks, plastics, glass coloration, and so on. |
SULPHUR DYES |
Most commonly used dyes manufactured for cotton in terms of volume. They are cheap, generally have good wash-fastness and are easy to apply. The dyes are absorbed by cotton from a bath containing sodium sulfide or sodium hydrosulfite and are made insoluble within the fiber by oxidation. During this process these dyes form complex larger molecules which is the basis of their good wash-fastness. Used in textile. |
PIGMENTS |
Pigments are used for coloring paint, ink, plastic, fabric, cosmetics, food and other materials. Most pigments used in manufacturing and the visual arts are dry colourants, usually ground into a fine powder. This powder is added to a vehicle (or binder), a relatively neutral or colorless material that suspends the pigment and gives the paint its adhesion. Used for plastics, inks and textile. |
VAT DYES |
The process "vat dyeing" refers to dyeing in a bucket or vat. It can be performed whenever a liquid, even shade over the entire garment is desired. Almost any dye can be used, including fiber reactive dyes, direct dyes, and acid dyes. One alternative to vat dyeing is direct dye application, such as the process used for tie dyeing. "Vat dyes" are a special class of dyes that work with a special chemistry. Cotton, wool, and other fibers can be all dyed with vat dyes. Note that not all vat dyeing is done with vat dyes. |
