Disperse Dye | History of Disperse Dye | Properties of Disperse Dyes

Disperse Dye
A class of slightly water-soluble dyes originally introduced for dyeing acetate and usually
applied from fine aqueous suspensions. Disperse dyes are widely used for dyeing most of the
manufactured
fibers.
Dyes are colored, unsaturated organic chemical compounds capable of giving colour to a
substrate (a textile), i.e. colouring or dyeing it.

Example of disperse dye

The term disperse dye have been applied to the organic colouring substances which are free
from ionizing groups, are of low water solubility and are suitable for dyeing hydrophobic fibres.
The dye has derived its name for its insoluble aqueous properties and the need to apply it from an
aqueous dispersion. Of all the dyes, they are of the smallest molecular size.
Disperse dyes have substantivity for one or more hydrophobic fibres e.g. cellulose acetate, nylon,
polyester,
acrylic
and
other
synthetic
fibers.
The negative charge on the surface of hydrophobic fibres like polyester can not be reduced by
any means, so non-ionic dyes like disperse dyes are used which are not influenced by that
surface
charge.

History

of

Disperse

Dye

In 1922, Green and Saunders made one type of coloured azo compound, in which a solubilizing
group (for example- methyl sulphate, -CH2-SO3H) is attached to amino group. In dye bath, they
are slowly hydrolyzed and produce azo compound and formaldehyde bi sulphate. This free azo
compound was capable of dyeing cellulose acetate fibres. This dye was named ionamine. But
this
ion
amine
did
not
give
satisfactory
result
in
dyeing.
Later in 1924, Baddiley and Ellis produced sulpho ricinoleic acid (SRA) for dyeing acetate
fibres. This SRA was used as dispersing agent. Later it was seen that SRA was capable of dyeing
Nylon, polyester, acrylic etc. In 1953 this dye was named as Disperse Dye.

Properties of Disperse Dyes

1. Disperse dyes are nonionic dyes. So they are free from ionizing group.

2. They are ready made dyes and are insoluble in water or have very low water solubility.
3. They are organic colouring substances which are suitable for dyeing hydrophobic fibres.
4. Disperse dyes are used for dyeing man made cellulose ester and synthetic fibres specially
acetate and polyester fibres and sometimes nylon and acrylic fibres.
5. Carrier or dispersing agents are required for dyeing with disperse dyes.
6. Disperse dyes have fair to good light fastness with rating about 4-5.
7. The wash fastness of these dyes is moderate to good with rating about 3-4.
8. Of all dyestuffs disperse dyes are of smallest molecular size.
9. Generally disperse dyes are derivatives of azo, anthroquinone, nitro and quinine groups.
10. They do not undergo any chemical change during dyeing.
11. In presence of nitrous oxide, textile materials dyed with certain blue and violet disperse
dyes with an anthraquinone structure will fade. This is called gas fading of disperse dyes
which is a defect of this dye.
Read more: http://textilelearner.blogspot.com/2012/01/disperse-dye-history-of-dispersedye.html#ixzz3uwgy1qot