Basic Dyes
1 Introduction
Basic dyes are cationic (positively charged) and are held
on to the fibre by the formation of salt links with anionic
groups in the fibre. For this reason, basic dyes are often
also referred to as cationic dyes.
Basic dyes are known for their brilliant and intense
colors.
Basic dyes are organic bases and retain free or substituted –NH2 groups in their
structure, e.g., –NH2, –N(CH3)2, –N(C2H5)2 etc.
The dye bases usually have a general formula that is capable of salt formation
R NH 2
OH
The base that contains no quinonoid chromophore is colourless, and the colour only
appears upon salt formation.
They are particularly well-suited for dyeing acrylic fibers, as well as other synthetic
fibers such as nylon and polyester. Basic dyes can also be used to dye wool and silk.
Basic dyes have no affinity to Cellulosic fibers except Jute.
Jute fiber shows an affinity for basic dyes due to the presence of acidic constituents,
such as uronic acids, within the fiber structure. These acidic components, along with
lignin, are thought to be responsible for the strong attraction to basic dyes. While some
early theories suggested tannins, later analysis indicated they are not the primary cause.
2 Classification of Basic dye:
Based on Chemcial Structure
1. Azo, e.g., Bismarck brown
2. Diphenylmethane, e.g., Auramine O, Auromine G,
3. Triphenyl methane, e.g., Malachite Green, Magenta
4. Methane, e.g., Astrazon Yellow 3G, Orange G
5. Acridine e.g., Acridine Orange R
6. Xanthene, e.g., Rhodamine B, Rhodamine 6G
7. Azine, e.g., Safranine T
8. Oxazine, e.g. Meldola’s Blue, Acronol Sky Blue 3G
9. Thiazine, e.g., Methylene Blue, Methylene Green etc.
3 Properties of Basic dye:
1. Basic dyes are soluble in alcohol and methylated spirits, but not readily soluble in water,
while a few are only sparingly soluble.
2. The fundamental dyes are often insoluble in water; therefore, they're transformed into
their salts i.e. hydrochlorides, sulphates, or double salts to offer solubility.
3. Soluble in mild acidic water solution
4. Brilliant shade is formed.
5. It is cationic.
6. Dyed in acidic conditions.
7. Basic dyes show affinity towards wool , silk and cationic dye-able acrylic.
8. Basic dyes do not have affinity for cotton. The use of basic dyes on cotton involve the
troublesome process of mordanting with tannic acid.
9. Jute is dyed with basic dye.
10. Basic dyes are also used for making inks, typewriter ribbons and dyeing leather.
11. The basic dyestuff will combine with direct or sulfur or some acid dyestuffs. So they
cannot be used together in the same bath
12. Color fastness properties- average.
13. Environmentally unfriendly
14. Basic dye reacts with strong alkali and produce colourless dye base.
H
+
D N R C l- + N aO H
R'
D N + N a C l + H 2O
R'
C o lo rle ss
4 Dyeing of cellulose
Basic dyes are rarely used on cotton or cellulose fibers because cellulose fibers lack
acidic groups and, therefore, have no affinity for basic dyes.
Basic dye possesses no affinity for cellulose and pre-mordanting of the latter is essential
to develop affinity for dye. Tannic acid acts as a mordant in dyeing cotton with basic
dye, using its –OH group to make an H-bond with cellulose, while the –COOH group
reacts with the basic dye.
However, fastness is not good as neither dye–fibre reaction occurs nor tannic acid–basic
dye complex is too bigger to develop excellent wash fastness. Even tannic acid being
water soluble comes out in bath during dyeing.
In order to overcome this, tannic acid is fixed on cellulose by treating tannic acid
mordanted cellulose with tartar emetic to form a water-insoluble big anionic complex.
Dyeing of cellulose (except jute) involves 3 steps
Mordanting with Tannic acid
Fixing of tannic acid with tartar emetic (potassium antimony
tartarate [2{K(SbO)C4H4O6}] )
Dyeing with Basic dye.
4.1 Method of Jute dyeing with Basic dye:
Recipe:
Dyestuff----2%
Acetic acid---3%
M: L--------1:20
Temperature—80-1000C
Time-----1 hr.
Procedure:
Paste is formed with dyestuff, acetic acid, and the addition of water.
The sample is then kept in a dye bath, and the temperature is raised to 80-100°C,
performing dyeing at this temperature for 1 hour.
After dyeing, the dyed sample is squeezed, washed, and then dried.
800-1000C
Acetic acid
Dye stuff
1 hr
Sample
Room Temp
After treatment:
Due to increase dye stability, the dyed sample is treated with 2% acetic acid for 15-20
min at 70-800C.
Due to improvement of luster dyed sample is treated with 2% Alum at 70-80 0C for
15-20 min.
5 Application of Basic dye on Protein fibre/Wool:
Carboxyl groups of protein fiber are found at the end of the macromolecule. When the carboxyl
group of the fiber is ionized, negative sites are produced, resulting in the attraction of
electrostatic forces of the basic components dye.
H
+
N R
-
H2N COOH + D Cl
R'
H
- +
H 2N COO D N R + HCl
R'
Thus, HCl is produced, and the dyeing process will occur slowly due to the addition of acid to
the dye bath, resulting in a uniform outcome. On the other hand, when acid is present in the
dye bath, the ionization of the protein fiber is inhibited, meaning the negative sites of the fiber
are reduced. As a result, the dye absorption of the fiber decreases.
Application of Basic dye on wool:
Recipe:
Dyestuff----2 %
Acetic acid—2%
Salt----------10%
M : L Ratio—1:30
Temp...... up to 90..C
Time-----30-40 min.
Procedure:
At first, paste is formed by mixing dyestuff and acetic acid, and a solution is made by
adding water.
Additional water is added to the dye bath, and the dye solution is slowly incorporated
into the dye bath.
Then, the temperature is increased to 900°C, and salt is added slowly. The temperature
is maintained at 900°C for 30 minutes to allow for easy dye penetration into the
material.
Dye + Acetic acid
Salt 900C 30-40 Min
Sample
Water
Application of Basic dye on Silk:
Recipe:
Dyestuff-------2%
Acetic acid------2%
Salt--------------10%
M:L (water)—1:30
Temp----------80.C
Time----------30 min.
Procedure & dyeing curve: (as wool)
Dissolution of Basic dye:
Water does not dissolve basic colours. The best method for dissolving them is to combine the
dye powder with water and acetic acid (40 percent), then stir while adding boiling water to the
paste.
6 Dyeing of acrylic fibre with basic dye:
Acrylic is a man-made synthetic fiber formed from the monomer acrylonitrile. This fibre
contains 100% acrylonitrile, which makes the fibre very compact & unabsorbent. Thus, their
dyeing becomes very difficult. To overcome these difficulties, a copolymer is used. This
copolymer makes the fibres absorbent and soft.
H H Copolymer:- H H
C C C C
H CN H X
Acrylonitrile Where, X = -Cl, -OOCCH 3,
-CONH 2, -SO 3H etc.
The polymerization of acrylonitrile & the co-polymer is carried out by using redox
initiators.
H H H H
H C C C C H
H CN m H X n
P
Here degree of polymerization P = 2000
and during reaction, copolymer is taken not more than 15%, and acrylonitrile is taken 85%.
Vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, and vinyl sulphonic acid may be used as co-polymers. The
dyeing reaction may be represented as follows,
Ac = acrylic fibre polymer
SO3 = Negative changed sulphonate group
AcSO3 = Acrylic fibre polymer with negatively changed sulphonate group. This
sulphonate group is active and acts as a dye site.
D = Dye cation; basic dye.
AcSO3 D AcSO3 D
Dye attached to dye
site on acrylic fibre polymer
0 0
The Tg; of acrylic fibre is 75 -80 C. So dyeing temperature should be higher than this
temperature. Better result can be obtained at 850-1000C.
The acrylic fibre may be dyed in i) Yarn ii) Loose fibre iii) Fabric form.
Acrylic fibre is dyed by jet, winch, pad-batch or pad-steam machines but not by jigger
dyeing m/c.
Recipe:
Dye: 0.4%
Acetic acid: 1.1%
Sodium acetate: 0.3%
Temperature: 850-1100C
PH: 5 to 5.5
Time: 2 hrs
M:L: 1:27
Dyeing curve:
850C
10C/3-5min 2 hours
600C
Dye Acetic acid
+
500C
Na-acetate (Slowly cold wash)
Water Material To avoid crease
Difference between direct acid & basic dye:
The differences between direct acid and basic dyes are mentioned below:
Direct dye Acid dye Basic dye
1. Dye molecules contain 1. Dye molecules contain 1. Dye molecules contain no
more than one azo only one azo group. azo group but substitute
groups. amino group.
2. Size of dye molecule is 2.Size of dye molecule is 2. Size of dye molecule is
big. small. smaller than that of direct
dye.
3. Dyeing is done in acid 3.Dyeing is done in acid or 3. Dyeing is done in neutral
or alkaline or neutral medium. medium.
medium.
4. Forms coloured anion 4. Forms coloured anion and 4. Forms coloured cations
and colourless cation in colourless cation in aqueos and colourless anion in
solution. solution. aqueos solution.
5. They have direct affinity 5.They have direct affinity 5. They have no direct
to cellulosic fibres. to protein fibres. affinity to cellulosic or
protein fibres.
6. Washing fastness is 6.Washing fastness is about 6. Washing fastness is about
about 2-3 2-5 according to leveling 4-5
property.
