Classification of dyes on the basis of:

–Chemical and mode of application

Classification systems for dyes
• Dyes may be classified according:
– To chemical structure or
– By their usage or application method
• The former approach is adopted by practicing dye chemists, who
use terms such as azo dyes, anthraquinone dyes, and
phthalocyanine dyes.
• The latter approach is used predominantly by the dye user, the dye
technologist, who speaks of reactive dyes for cotton and disperse
dyes for polyester.
• Very often, both terminologies are used, for example, an azo
disperse dye for polyester and a phthalocyanine reactive dye for
cotton.
Classification of dyes on the basis of mode of application
• There are different methods by which dyes are applied on the
fibres.
• This depends on:
– The structure of the dye
– Nature of the fibre
– Physical properties such as solubility
• Thus, a method used for one group of dyes may not be suitable for
another group of dyes.
• Therefore, dyes can be classified on the basis of mode of
application.
• When dyes are classified in this way, the dyes with similar
structure will be placed in different groups.
• Some dyes are prepared in the final form and then applied on the
fibres whereas some of them are prepared on the fibre itself
(Ingrain dyes).
Direct dyes (salt dyes or substantive dyes)
– Examples: Azo dyes (congo red), stilbene, phthalocyanine dyes
Acid dyes
– Examples: Nitro dyes (picric acid, naphthol yellow), azo dyes
(metanil yellow, orange II)
Basic dyes
– Examples: Triphenylmethane dyes (crystal violet, malachite
green, megenta), xanthene dyes (rhodamine B), thiazinc dyes
(methylene blue)
Developed dyes (Ingrain dyes)
– Fast blue B base (azoic base), aniline black, naphthol AS (azoilc
coupler)
Mordant dyes
– Examples: Anthraquinone dyes (alizarin), azo dyes (Erichrome
black T), alizarin is applied to cotton mordanted with Al(OH)3.
Vat Dyes
– Example: Indigoid dyes (indigo), anthraquinone dyes
(indanthrene yellow GK)
Solubilized vat dyes
– These are an exterision of the vat dyes.
– They are sodium salts of the sulphuric estes of leuco
compounds.
– Example: Indigoid and anthraquinone
Sulphur dyes
– Example: Sulphur black T for umbrella cloth
Disperse dyes Assignment
– Example: Celliton scarlet B Q: What is cyanuration?
Reactive dyes
– A reactive dye can be obtained by action of cyanuric chloride on
a dye containing amino group at low temperature and in neutral
medium.
– One of the chlorine atoms of the cyanuric chloride is substituted
by amino group of the dye.
– This is called cyanuration.
• Procion brilliant red M-2B, cibracron brilliant red B.

Solvent dyes
– Examples: Azo, anthraquinone and triphenylmethane dyes.
Note:
• In addition to these, there are many other dyes used in variety
of applications such as:
– Food colours
– Photographic dyes
– Optical brightners etc.
Chemical classification of dyes
• The dyes have different chemical structures derived from aromatic and
heteroaromatic compounds.
• They mainly differ in chromophores and auxochromcs.
• Hence, dyes can be classified on the basis of chemical structure,
particularly considering the chromophoric system.
• However, it should be noted that the dyes of a particular chemical class
may not have same properties, or mode of application.
Advantages
• This is most appropriate system for the classification of dyes which has
many advantages.
• First, it readily identifies dyes as belonging to a group that has
characteristic properties, for example, azo dyes (strong, good all-round
properties, cost-effective) and anthraquinone dyes (weak, expensive).
• Second, there are a manageable number of chemical groups (about a
dozen).
• Most importantly, it is the classification used most widely by both the
synthetic dye chemist and the dye technologist.
• Thus, both chemists and technologists can readily identify with phrases
such as an azo yellow, an anthraquinone red, and a phthalocyanine blue.
Nitroso dye
• Example: Fast green O, naphthol green G
Nitro dyes
– Example: Picric acid, naphthol yellow S
Azo dyes
– Example: Orange II (acidic azo dye), aniline yellow (basic azo
dye), congo red, para red
Diphenylmethane dyes
– Example: Auramine O
Triphenylmethane dyes
– Example: Malachite green, crystal violet
Phthalein dyes
– Example: Phenolphthalein
Xanthene dyes
– Example: Fluorescein, rhodamine B
Heterocyclic dyes
– Example: Phenazine, safranine T, phenathiazine, methylene blue
Polymethine dyes
– Example: Astrazone pink FG
Indigoid dye
– Example: Indigo, thio indigo
Anthraquinone dyes
– Example: Alizarin, indenthren yellow 4GK
Sulphur dyes

Phthalocynines
– Example: Isoindole, phthalonitrile, phthalogen, monastral fast
blue BS