Direct dyes

Submitted to:
Dr. Bushra Nasar
By:
Saba Arshad
 Direct dyes
• Direct dyes are one of the most versatile classes of dyestuff applicable to cellulose,
silk, wool, silk, nylon fiber .

• This dyes have inherent substantivity for cotton , and other cellulosic fibers.
• Dyeing takes place in the presence of an electrolyte such as NaCl or Na₂SO₄.

• The light fastness on cellulosic fibers varies from poor to fairly good ,although
some copper complex direct dyes have very good light fastness.

• Various after treatment to improve fastness to washing .

• Direct dyes generally does not meet today’s more stringent washing fastness
requirement
• Direct dyes are sodium salts of aromatic sulphonic acids.
• Can be denoted as DSO₃Na
• These dyes are sodium salt of aromatic sulphonic acid

• Most of them contain an azo group as main chromophore

• Direct dyes are water soluble dyes.

• DSO₃Na → DSO₃̄ + Na⁺

• It is anionic in nature .
• It needs electrolyte for exhaustion.
• Dyeing process is carried out in alkaline condition .
• Generally applied to cellulosic as well as protein fibers.
• Fastness properties are average specially wet fastness .
• It can be improved by after treatment.
• Comparatively cheap in price.
 Structure
• Direct dye molecules include the presence of aromatic
rings and sulphonate group attached to the rings.

• Chromophores- include azo, stilbene , oxazine or

phthalocyanin groups responsible for color of the product
 classification
• There are three groups : A, B ,C
• Class A: Self levelling Direct dyes :
• Dyes have good levelling characteristics

• Capable of dyeing uniformity when the electrolyte is added at the beginning of the
dyeing operation.
• Class :B: Self controlable Direct dyes:
• Dyes have poor levelling or migration properties.
• They can be controled by addition of electrolyte , usually after the dye bath has
reached the dyeing temperature
• they require relatively large amount of salt to exhaust well.
• Class C : Salt and temperature controllable dyes.

• dyes show relatively poor levelling or migration

• their substantivity increases very rapidly with increasing
temperature

• Contolling temperature, salt addition and rate of dyeing.

 Dyeing procedure
• The dyeing mechanism for the application of direct dyes to cellulose
fiber involves the adsorption , diffusion and migration over fiber.
1. set the dye bath with substrate at room temperature
2. add dye solution with other auxiliaries add raise the temperature at 90 ͦ
C
3. Run the bath for 15-20 min and add salt according to dye bath
concentration
4. run the dye bath 30 to 50 minutes at 90 ͦ C to complete the dyeing
cycle
5. Cold down the bath temperature to 60 to 70 ͦ C
6. After treatment process to improve wet fastness.
 precaution
1. All chemicals should be measured very carefully

2. Temperature should be increased very carefully

3. Water should be added very carefully

4. Time and temperature should be maintained slowly

5. Direct dye can be applied by batch dyeing mwthod ( jet or package dyeing machines)
,by semi continuous method ( pad –bath , pad roll) and by continuous methodes
( such as pad steam).
6. Many direct dyes are suitable for application be combined scouring and dyeing.
7. However , dye containing amide groups are avoided because of the risk of alkaline
hydrolysis
8. Direct dyes are widely in their fastness properties and staining effect on various fiber
 Mechanism of dyeing
• When cotton is immersed in a solution of a direct dye the following mechanism
takes place:
• _ Adsorption:
• Dye molecules move towards the fiber
• Get adsorbed on the fiber surface

• _Absorption and penetration

• Adsorbed dye penetrate inside the fiber structure
• Gradually , penetrate or diffuse inside the structure
• Rate of penetration based on the molecular structureof the dye and the dyeing
condition
• Greater the penetration of the dye in the fiber , better and brighter is the dyeing
• _ fixation :
• Fixation takes place by men of hydrogen bonds and vaanderwaals forces of
attraction
• The fastness of direct dyes can be improved:

• Treatment with fixing agents

• Treatment with farmaldehyde
• Treatment with copper salts
• Treatment with cationic agents and copper salts
• Diazotisation and development
• Treatment with cross linking agents or resins