DIRECT DYES AND DYEING OF

CELLULOSICS
PREPARED BY:
MOHD AZLIN BIN MOHD NOR / MIAK

WHAT IS DIRECT DYES?

Similar to acid dyes, direct dyes are soluble
anionic dyes consist of aromatic structure
containing a chromogen and solubilizing groups.
Direct dyes are substantive to cellulosic
materials only.
The first direct dye is Congo Red synthesized by
Boettiger in 1884 were benzidine derivatives
which was found to be carcinogenic no longer
produced in USA.

 Direct dyes are so called because they

were the first dyes to dye cellulosic fibers
directly, without the need for a pretreatment of the fibers with a mordant.
Their application is simple since they only
required a strong electrolyte such as
sodium chloride to assist in exhaustion.
economical, have generally good levelling
properties, a wide shade gamut.

 The majority of the direct dyes are disazo

and tetrazo derivatives.
OH
NaO3S

N N

H O
N C

SO3Na
C.I. Direct Red 81

SO3Na

NH2
H2N

(Class A)

OH

N N

N N

N
H

N N

SO3Na
C.I. Direct Black 22

(Class C)

NH2

N N
NH2

 Larger molecular and lower solubility

compared to regular acid dyes the
application condition is similar with neutral
dyeing acid dyes.
The mechanism by which direct dyes
become attached to cellulose is assumed
to be through the formation of a large
number of weak attractions between the
dye and the fiber.

 These weak attractions consist of Van der

Waals forces and hydrogen bonds.
Ionic bonds (acid dye and wool) are not
possible here since cellulose is not ionic in
nature.
Accordingly, the bonding of direct dyes to
cellulose is not sufficient to yield good
washfastness.

GENERAL PROPERTIES OF DIRECT

DYES
Simple and relatively inexpensive way of
dyeing cellulosic fibers.
Limited washfastness due to weak
bonding and solubility.
They are used frequently on materials that
are not washed at all such as ribbons for
gift wrapping etc.
Therefore, direct dyes are used today
mainly for producing light shades.

 Direct dyes are available in all shades and

in large numbers, but there are not too
many bright colors.
Lightfastness varies from poor to very
good.
Direct dyes can be applied by both
exhaust and continuous methods.

Classification of Direct Dyes

They are classified according to their
method of application as suggested by the
Society of Dyers and Colorists in 1946 and
currently used in Color Index:
Class A: Dyes with very good levelling or
migration properties require large amounts of
salt for exhaustion.
Class B: Fair levelling properties require
controlled additions of salt.
Class C: Poor levelling properties require
carefully controlled conditions i.e. both salt and
temperature have to be controlled least
amount of salt or no salt at all.