Direct Dyes

What is Direct Dye?

       An anionic dye which have substantivity for cellulosic fibres, normally applied from an aqueous
dye bath containing an electrolyte is known as direct dye.

Chemical Structure of Direct Dye

Why Direct Dye is So Called?

These dyes are anionic and having substantivity for all type of cellulosic fibres such as cotton, viscose,
rayon etc. These dyes have strong affinity towards the fibre which can be applied directly on the fibre
and which do not need any assistance. These dyes have affinity for cellulose and therefore they are also
substantive dyes. So, this dye is so called.

Properties of Direct Dye:

 It has sodium salt of sulphuric acid or carboxylic acid.

 Direct dye has more affinity to cellulosic fiber mainly cotton and viscose. although some protein
fiber can also dye with it.
 It can easily penetrate in fiber.
 It can be applied in neutral condition.
 Direct dyes depends on secondary forces such as H-bonds and Van Dar Waals forces to bond
with cellulosic fiber.
 It is soluble in water.
 Comparatively cheap.
 Easily diffusible into fibre.
 Wash fastness is not so good.

Classification of direct dye according to application

Based on migration test and salt controllability these dyes are classified as follows –
1. Class – A (Self leveling)
2. Class – B (Salt controllable)
3. Class – C (Temperature controllable)

Class A (Self leveling)– dyes that are self-levelling, i.e. dyes of good migration or leveling properties.

 Dyes migrate well.

 High leveling power.
 They may dye unevenly at first but further boiling will bring about even distribution.
Class B (Salt controllable) – dyes that are not self-levelling, but which can be controlled by addition of
salt to give level results; they are described as salt-controllable.

 Poor leveling power.

 Dye exhaustion must be brought about by controlled salt addition.
 If these dyes are not taken up uniformly in the initial stages, it is extremely difficult to correct
the levelness.

Class C (Temperature controllable) – dyes that are not self-levelling and which are highly sensitive to
salt, the exhaustion of these dyes cannot adequately be controlled by addition of salt alone and they
require additional control by temperature; they are described as temperature-controllable.

 These are not self leveling

 Highly sensitive to salt.
 The exhaustion of these dyes cannot adequately be controlled by addition of salt alone and they
require additional control by temperature.

Dyeing Methods of direct dyes:

Direct dyes may be applied by either batch or continuous methods. Details of the procedure very
according to the equipment used and the particular dye selected. Exhaust dyeing procedures consist of
the following steps:

01. Dye is dissolved in water and added to the dye bath containing the fabric which has been
appropriately prepared for dyeing.

02. The temperature of the dye bath is gradually increased to near the boiling point of water and held at
this temperature for some period of time.

03. Common salt or Glauber salt is added to enhance exhaustion of the dye. The timing of the salt
addition depends on particular dyes selected.

04. The fabric is rinsed to remove residual salt and dye that did not exhaust.

05. An after treatment to improve color fastness of the dyed material may be done at the end of the dye
cycle.

Factors which are responsible for dyeing with direct dye:

Effect of Salt:

Gradual addition of salt to the dye bath assists direct dye exhaustion onto cellulosic fibers. Fibers
immersed in water develop a negative surface potential. The negative charge of the cellulose surface
repels anionic dye molecules. The salts provide sodium ions to counteract the negative surface potential
of wet cotton.

Effect of temperature:

Increasing temperature increases the rate of dyeing and of dye migration. Higher dyeing temperature
ensures good leveling and better penetration of dye into the fibers.
Effect of PH:

Dyeing with direct dye is usually carried out in neutral solution. Under alkaline conditions, cellulose
fibers have an even greater negative potential because of increasing number of hydroxyl group.

Effect Of liquor Ratio:

Dye bath exhaustion should increase with decrease in the dyeing liquor ratio. Dyeing at low liquor ratio
decreases the amount of waste dye in the effluent. It also consumes less water and steam as well as
salt.

After Treatment of Direct Dye:

Fastness properties of direct dyes can be improved by after treating the dyed material. It works on the
principle of increasing the size of the dye molecule or decreasing its solubility in water.

Treatment of the fabric with a resin finish usually improves fastness of direct dyes to washing.

Cationic Agents:

After treatment of direct dyes with cationic fixing agents can improve their wash fastness. The cationic
agent combines with the sulponic acid groups in the dye to produce a large organic salt, which is
insoluble in water and therefore more difficult to wash from the fabric.

Copper after Treatment:

When certain dyes are treated with copper soleplate then it forms a metal complex with dye molecule.
The metal complex is slightly target in size than the original dye molecule and results in a slight
improvement in wash fastness.