Dyeing of Cotton with Sulphur Dyes

Session – 11.2
Praveen D Nagarajan
 DYEING OF COTTON WITH SULPHUR DYES
 
• Sulphur dyes have disulphide (S - S ) in their
structure. They are insoluble in nature
•  Sulphur dyes resemble vat colours in the following
aspect that, they have to be reduced to convert into
soluble form before application.
• Though several colours are available, sulphur black is
so popular, because of its cheapness and good
fastness properties to light and washing
• Sodium sulphide is the reducing agent and soda ash
is the alkali used in dissolution of sulphur dyes
 Recipe

• Sulphur dyes - x%
• TRO - equal to dye quantity
• Sodium sulphide - 1.5 times the quantity
of dye
• Sodium carbonate - 0.5 times the quantity
of dye Soda ash)
• Common salt - 10 -30% ( depends on
the shade%)
• Temperature - 90°C - 100°C
 Dissolving the dyes
• Before application in the dye bath, sulphur dye has to
be dissolved.
• Dyestuff is pasted with TRO and small quantity of
water. Soda ash is added first to have alkaline pH
during dissolution. Then sodium sulphide is added and
boiling Water (up to 20 times the quantity of dye) is
poured.
• Boiling is continued for 5 -10 minutes to complete the
dissolution.
• If the sodium sulphide is not sufficient, add more to
dissolve the dye completely in order to get even dyeing.
 Dyeing
• The dissolved dyestuff is strained through a sieve and added
to the dye bath where the material and required quantity of
water are taken.
• The dyeing is commenced at 50°C with necessary salt added
and the dye bath is heated to above 95°C. Salt may be
added in 2 or 3 instalments also.
• Dyeing is continued for 45 -60 minutes at gentle boil.
• After dyeing, the material is rinsed, squeezed or hydro
extracted, oxidized and then rinsed. Oxidation is done by
treating the dyed material with 5-10 gpl of hydrogen
peroxide (10 volume) for 15 minutes at 40°C.
 Soaping
• It is then soaped 3gpI soap and 2gpl soda ash at boil for 20
minutes. The material is washed in hot and cold water again.
•  To improve the fastness properties, an after treatment with
potassium dichromate and copper sulphate is common.
The dyed material is worked in a bath containing
Potassium dichromate - 1-1½%
Copper sulphate - 1- 1½%
Acetic acid - 1-1½%
at 60°C for 30 minutes and then washed thoroughly.
Copper sulphate  should not be used with sulphur black.
Problem and remedies in sulphur dyeing
• Sulphur black dyed goods show a bronzy appearance
which is unwanted. This can be removed by after
treatment with sodium sulphide 0.1 % at 30 degree C
or a treatment with 2-5 gpl of olive oil soap and 1-2
gpl of soda ash at 60°C for 15-20 minutes.
• Sulphur black tendering is another problem
associated with sulphur black dyes wherein the dyed
material is liable to tender on prolonged storage due
to free sulphur present in the dye getting converted
into sulphuric acid.
 Problems and remedies
• This Sulphuric acid hydrolysis cotton and
degrade it. The dichromate treatment itself
releases the free sulphur, or, it is also desirable
to give the dyed material a final alkaline wash
with 8 gpl soda ash.