Direct dyes application

From an appHcations point of view, the sulfur dyes are between vat, direct, and fiber-reactive dyes. They give good to moderate lightfastness and good wetfastness at low cost and rapid processing (see Dyes, application and evaluation). 

Basic Theory of Fiber-Reactive Dye Application. The previously described mechanisms of dyeing for direct dyes apply to the apphcation of reactive dyes in neutral dyebaths. In alkaline solutions important differences are found. The detailed theoretical treatments are described elsewhere (6) but it is important to consider some of the parameters and understand how they influence the apphcation of fiber-reactive dyes. 

The traditional use of dyes is in the coloration of textiles, a topic covered in considerable depth in Chapters 7 and 8. Dyes are almost invariably applied to the textile materials from an aqueous medium, so that they are generally required to dissolve in water. Frequently, as is the case for example with acid dyes, direct dyes, cationic dyes and reactive dyes, they dissolve completely and very readily in water. This is not true, however, of every application class of textile dye. Disperse dyes for polyester fibres, for example, are only sparingly soluble in water and are applied as a fine aqueous dispersion. Vat dyes, an important application class of dyes for cellulosic fibres, are completely insoluble materials but they are converted by a chemical reduction process into a water-soluble form that may then be applied to the fibre. There is also a wide range of non-textile applications of dyes, many of which have emerged in recent years as a result of developments in the electronic and reprographic... 

The fact that the aftertreatment of direct dyes has a long history is not surprising since wet fastness within this class is not particularly good. Their prime advantages are ease of application and economy compared with dyes of higher fastness (reactive, sulphur or vat) -hence the continued search for highly effective aftertreatments that improve wet fastness... 

The distribution of each chemical type between the major application groups of colorants is far from uniform (Table 1.1). Stilbene and thiazole dyes are almost invariably direct dyes, also containing one or more azo groups. Acridines and methines are usually basic dyes,... 

Stilbene dyes are mixtures of indeterminate constitution resembling polyazo direct dyes in their application properties. They result from the alkaline self-condensation of 4-nitrotoluene-2-sulphonic acid (1.5) or its initial condensation product (1.6 X = N02),... 

The application range designated by this generic name in the Colour Index incorporates those acid, direct and mordant dyes with substantivity for leather and satisfactory fastness on that substrate [55]. It is a commercially important sector, the number of products listed being exceeded only by the complete acid or direct dye ranges. As expected from the sources of this selection, about 85% of leather dyes are azo compounds (35% disazo, 30% monoazo, 20% metal-complex monoazo) and the remainder are mainly yellow to orange stilbene dyes and anthraquinone or triarylmethane types in the violet to green sectors. 

Heavy metals are widely used as catalysts in the manufacture of anthraquinonoid dyes. Mercury is used when sulphonating anthraquinones and copper when reacting arylamines with bromoanthraquinones. Much effort has been devoted to minimising the trace metal content of such colorants and in effluents from dyemaking plants. Metal salts are used as reactants in dye synthesis, particularly in the ranges of premetallised acid, direct or reactive dyes, which usually contain copper, chromium, nickel or cobalt. These structures are described in detail in Chapter 5, where the implications in terms of environmental problems are also discussed. Certain basic dyes and stabilised azoic diazo components (Fast Salts) are marketed in the form of tetrachlorozincate complex salts. The environmental impact of the heavy metal salts used in dye application processes is dealt with in Volume 2. 

The nomenclature given for these componnds is a nniversally recognised system for the naming of dyestuffs devised by the Society of Dyers and Colourists as part of their Colour Index (Cl). The Cl Generic Name is made up of the application class, the hne and a nnmber. Acid dyes are nsed on wool and polyamide, direct dyes on cel-lulosic fibres, paper and leather, disperse dyes on polyester fibres, reactive dyes on cellnlosic fibres and basic dyes on polyacrylonitrile and paper. 

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