Mordant Dyes

These are special acid dyes in which certain metal atom can be introduced during dyeing. These are water soluble dyes and affinity for silk, wool and polyamides. Mordant dyes requires a mordant in their application and these dyes upon cobination with the mordant deposit on the fiber in the form of insoluble color. Most commonly dyes have hydroxyl or carboxyl groups and are negatively charged (anionic) in nature.

Types of mordant dyes

Properties of mordant dyes
These dyes are economical dyes and are generally used to produce dark shades such as dark greens , dark blues and blacks.
These dyes have good leveling and color fastness properties.
The interaction between fiber and dye is established through very strong ionic bonds , which are formed between the anionic groups of the colorant and ammonium cations on the fiber. Chromium or the metal ion acts as bridge between the dye and fiber , which gives rise to a very strong linkage , resulting into excellent fastness properties.
However there are disadvantages of the chrome dyes also such as longer dyeing cycles, difficulties in shading , risk of chemical damage to the fiber and the potential release of chromium in the waste water.
Mechanism of dyeing
Since these are a special class of acid dyes , which are soluble in water and applied to the fiber from an acidic bath. When a solution of an acid mordant dye is mixed with a solution of potassium dichromate in the presence of sulfuric acid , chromium ion from dichromate forms a complex with the dyes , this complex is insoluble in water ,and hence precipitates on the fiber.

There are three different methods of application of chrome dyes on the fiber,
Chrome – Mordant method
After chrome method
Meta chrome method

Application of mordant dyes
Chrome-mordant process

In chrome mordant process, the fiber is first treated with potassium dichromate in the neutral bath or in the presence of either sulfuric or formic or oxalic acid. When sufficient amount of chromium is taken up by fiber , it is taken out , squeezed and entered in the dye bath containing acid mordant dye. The dye form an insoluble complex with chrome present on the fiber .
After chrome method

In this method the substrate is first treated with the dye , the dye is exhausted by the addition of an acid , and after complete exhaustion the material is taken out squeezed and then run in a solution containing potassium dichromate and an acid. Metal dye complex is formed on the fiber , which is insoluble.
Meta Chrome process

This is a single bath process , in which the material is treated with in a bath containing acid mordant dye , potassium dichromate and ammonium sulphate.

The dye along with potassium dichromate and ammonium sulphate got absorbed by the fiber and evenly distributed but no complex is formed because the pH is not suitable for the chemical reaction to take place.

In the second step of the meta chrome process, when the dye bath is heated , ammonium sulphate is converts into ammonia and sulphuric acid , which makes the bath strongly acidic and potassium dichromate in the presence of strong acid now react with the dye molecule forming an insoluble complex on the fiber.


A dyeing cycle for dyeing of wool with chrome dyes is shown below

HERE A=GALAUBER SALT+ACETIC ACID+LEVELING AGENT

B= DYE

C=POTASSIUM DICHROMATE

D=ACID