27/06/2012

Dyeing Acrylic with Cationic Dyes

Dr. Tanveer Hussain

Cationic dyes

• Also called ‘Basic Dyes’

• Salts of organic bases in which
chromophoric system is linked to a cation,
while anion is colourless
• Dye (+) (-) Colourless anion
• Have affinities with acid groups in fibers

27/06/2012 Dr. Tanveer Hussain 2

1
 27/06/2012

Acrylic Fiber

• Obtained by polymerization of acrylonitrile

• Acrylonitrile polymer has sulphate and
sulphonated end groups which give it an
acidic character
• Further acidic groups may be present due
to presence of acidic co-polymers such as
acrylic acid or allylsulphuric acid

27/06/2012 Dr. Tanveer Hussain 3

Acrylic vs. Modacrylic

• Acylic fibers contain less than 15% co-

monomers
• Modacrylic fibers contain more than 15%
co-monomers
• Cationic dyes can be used to dye both
acrylic and modacrylic fibers

27/06/2012 Dr. Tanveer Hussain 4

2
 27/06/2012

Dyeing mechanism of acrylic with

cationic dyed

SO3- SO3- Dye +

• Fiber + Dye + Fiber

COO- COO- Dye +

27/06/2012 Dr. Tanveer Hussain 5

Important considerations

• Fiber saturation value (Smax)

– the maximum dye absorption capacity of a polyacrylonitrile fibre
• Saturation factor (f)
– a dyestuff constant and can be found in the illustration section of
the shade card
• The maximum dye concentration (C)
– which can be applied to the corresponding fibre can be
calculated from the fibre saturation value (Smax) and the
saturation factor (f)

27/06/2012 Dr. Tanveer Hussain 6

3
 27/06/2012

The K-value

• The K-value is a characteristic number for the dye strike

rate behaviour of cationic (e.g. BEZACRYL Dyes).
• The values lie within a range of 1 – 5,
• Dyes with a low value have a faster strike rate than dyes
with a high K-value.
• In combinations care should therefore be taken to use
dyes with compatible K-values,
– i. e. differing by not more than 0.5 units, thus ensuring an even
colour build up.

27/06/2012 Dr. Tanveer Hussain 7

Dyeing Phases

• Adsorption of the dye on the fabric surface

• Diffusion of the dye into the fiber
• Fixation of the dye
– By reaction between dye cations and fiber
anions

27/06/2012 Dr. Tanveer Hussain 8

4
 27/06/2012

Control of cationic dye exhaustion on acrylic

• Temperature control
• Use of retarders
– Anionic retarders
– Cationic retarders

27/06/2012 Dr. Tanveer Hussain 9

Dissolving the dye

• Powder grades are worked into a paste with the

same quantity of 60 % acetic acid and 10 – 50
times the same quantity of boiling water is then
poured over the paste. The solution should not
be boiled.
• Liquid grades can be added directly to the dye
bath. However, if the dye is to be diluted
precipitations can be avoided by using 10 – 20
times the same quantity of water.

27/06/2012 Dr. Tanveer Hussain 10

5
 27/06/2012

Example Dyeing Process

A pH buffer 1-2 g/l

(for 4.5 pH)
B -Leveling agent
(retarder ) 0-3.5 %
-Cationic dye x%
C Rinse

BEZACRYL Dyes by BEZEMA

27/06/2012 Dr. Tanveer Hussain 11