Application of nonionic surfactant in

colorants

Vinay Bhaya
Roll no.16
Final Year (Dyes)
Based on the charge on hydrophilic groups, surfactants can
be classified into four categories

1. Non Ionic - No charge on the hydrophile

2. Anionic - Negative charge on the hydrophile
3. Cationic - Positive charge on the hydrophile
4. Zwitterionic - positive & negative charges present in the
same molecule.
Main role of surfactant used in dyeing auxiliary
product can be classified into 3 types of actions

1. Dye leveling / Retarding agent

2. Surface active compounds

Solubilizing
Dispersing
Wetting.

3. Azoic fastness improvers

 Levelness

Unlevelness
 Main mechanisms of levelling agents


Nonionic surfactants

Usually form water-soluble complexes with the dye, some
degree of solubilisation being involved

Ionic agents

Dye-substantive
 Form complexes with the dye and there is competition
between the levelling agent and the fibre for the dye

Fibre-substantive
 competition between levelling agent and the dye for the
fibre
Representation of solubilised
acid dye-agent complex
 Mechanism of levelling for acid dyes
+
Levelling-N R4
1. Complex dye-levelling
- O -
Dye-SO3 Dye-SO3
C
Splitting out
+
+ N N H3
Levelling-N R4
H

O - O -
Dye-SO3 Dye-SO3
C + C
N N H3 +
N N H3
H H
-
Nylon Levelling-SO3
-
O Levelling-SO3
C + Splitting out
N N H3
2. Competitive ionic levelling
H -
Dye-SO3
-
-
Levelling-SO3
O Dye-SO3
C +
N N H3
H
 Levelling agent for disperse dyes
• Non-ionic levelling agent tend to be separated at high
temperature but can increase dyes solubilisation (Low
cloud point)
• Anionic levelling agent can increase the cloud point of
nonionic agent
• Should synergistic mixing together
• 7-10% of B in A can increase cloud point of A alone
(105oC) to 150oC
• Fully effective at pH >7 (Carefully selection of dyes)

(A) fatty acid ethoxylate (B) sodiumdodecylbenzenesulphonate

 Levelling agent for disperse dyes

• Modified nonionic (or Modified anionic,

Weakly anionic)
– Phosphate ester ethoxylation
• High temperature stability
• Protect hardness and trace metal ion
• Stabilise under high concentration of electrolyte
• Fully effective at pH 4-5 (pH of disperse dyeing)
 Levelling agent for Vat dyes
• Leuco form have high affinity for cellulosic fibre
• They dye fibre at high rate
• Thus production of even shades becomes difficult

Methods to control rate of dyeing

1. Nonionic surfactants competing with dye for fibre sites

2. Surfactants combining with dye to form loose complexes
(These are not adsorbed on the fibre)
 Nonionic - Surfactants to be used for vat dyes

Dispersol VL (ICI)
Dispersal (Royce Chemical Co.)
Berol EGA-07 (Aktiebolaget Berol-Produketer)
Emullant CO 18 (Union Chemique Belge)
Emullant CO 25 (Union Chemique Belge)

Note : Quantities in excess of the recommended quantities should not be

added, otherwise they may lead to greater restraining action &
hence to permanent loss of colour value
Azoic Fastness Improver
naphthol (alk. sol.)+ diazotised base = azoic colorants

Some of the naphthol drains into the external bath and

forms azoic pigment

This gets deposited on the fibre creating rubbing

fastness problems
Solution to this problem

When dispersing agent (Cetyl Alcohol-Ethylene oxide) is added,

the azoic pigment forms a dispersion, which does not deposit on
the fibre

Dispersing agent also stabilises the diazotised base (inhibits the

decomposition of the base before coupling) resulting in better
utilization of the base

NOTE : The nonionic surfactant may be used to the extent of

2 g/l in the developing bath
Role of nonionic surfactant in Paints

Dispersion of pigment particles (mainly in water)

Stabilization of formulated product without any separation

during storage
Dispersion of pigment material

Pigments particles are inorganic materials with

hydrophobic surfaces

Pigments do not mix with water unless surfactant is added

Surfactant gets adsorbed at the interface of solid and

water & carries out wetting of the powder material.
Stabilization is critical for the product to survive on
the shelf

Stabilization is achieved by creation of a barrier

Potential Energy curve
Thus for effective dispersion & stabilization ,the following types of
nonionic surfactants can be used

1.Ethoxylated alkyl phenols (Tergitol 15 S series)

2.Ethoxylated alcohols (Berol 185)

3.Fatty esters of polyols

 REFERENCES
1. Nonionic Surfactants: Physical Chemistry, edited by Martin
J. Schick
2. Handbook of detergents, Martin Schick, chapter no. 17
3. Surfactants in textile processing, Arved datyner, chhapter
no.10
4. Nonionic Surfactants: Chemical Analysis, edited by John
Cross
5. Dye-Surfactant Interactions and Their Applications,
ERMANNO BARNI,1991, vol 98-103, p 21
6. The Interaction between Dyes and Nonionic Surfactants:
the Mode of Action of Nonionic Surfactants in Dyeing,
Yoshio Nemoto, 71, 364, (1979)