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The chemical used for dyes depends on the type of dye and the fiber being dyed. Dyes themselves are complex organic compounds, but several key chemicals are used in the dyeing process to enable proper bonding, solubility, and fixation of these dyes on fabrics.

Here’s a breakdown by dye type and associated chemicals:

🎨 1. Reactive Dyes (for cotton, viscose)

• Main dye chemical: Reactive dye molecules (based on chlorotriazine, vinyl sulfone, etc.)
• Fixation aid: Sodium carbonate (to raise pH for fixation)
• Auxiliaries: Wetting agents, leveling agents, sequestering agents

🎨 2. Direct Dyes (for cotton)

• Main dye chemical: Water-soluble anionic dyes with azo, stilbene structures
• Fixation aid: Salt (common salt or Glauber’s salt to promote dye uptake)
• Post-treatment: Cationic dye fixatives (like PolyDADMAC)

🎨 3. Disperse Dyes (for polyester, acetate)

• Main dye chemical: Low water-soluble dyes dispersed in water
• Carrier chemicals: Benzyl alcohol, phenol derivatives (to swell polyester)
• Dispersing agents: Sulfonated lignin, naphthalene sulfonates

🎨 4. Acid Dyes (for wool, silk, nylon)

• Main dye chemical: Anionic dyes (sulfonic acid salts)
• Fixation aid: Acetic acid (to lower pH)
• Levelling agents: Acidic surfactants or sulfonated oils

🎨 5. Vat Dyes (for cotton)

• Main dye chemical: Insoluble dye (like indigo)
• Reducing agent: Sodium hydrosulfite (to convert dye to soluble leuco form)
• Oxidizing agent: Hydrogen peroxide or air (to fix dye on fiber)

🎨 6. Sulfur Dyes (for cotton)

• Reducing agent: Sodium sulfide
• Fixation: Oxidation in air or with mild oxidizing agents

In summary, the dye chemical is often used in conjunction with supporting chemicals like fixatives, acids, alkalis, dispersing agents, or reducing agents, depending on the system.

The textile industry uses a wide range of chemical products across various stages of textile processing, from fiber preparation to finishing. These chemicals help improve fabric performance, enhance appearance, and add functional properties.

Here’s a categorized overview of the main chemical products used in the textile industry:

🧼 1. Pretreatment Chemicals

Prepare fabrics by cleaning and making them dye-ready:

• Wetting agents – lower surface tension (e.g., nonionic surfactants)
• Desizing agents – remove sizing materials (e.g., enzymes like amylase)
• Scouring agents – remove waxes/oils (e.g., caustic soda, detergents)
• Bleaching agents – whiten fabric (e.g., hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite)
• Sequestering agents – bind metal ions (e.g., EDTA)

🎨 2. Dyeing Chemicals

Used to color the fabric:

• Dyes – reactive, disperse, direct, acid, vat, sulfur dyes
• Dispersing agents – keep dyes evenly distributed in water
• Levelling agents – ensure even dye penetration
• Salt & alkali – improve dye fixation (e.g., sodium chloride, sodium carbonate)
• pH regulators – acetic acid, citric acid
• Dye fixing agents – improve wash and rub fastness (e.g., cationic polymers like PolyDADMAC)

✨ 3. Finishing Chemicals

Enhance appearance, feel, or functionality:

• Softening agents – silicones, fatty acid derivatives
• Anti-crease agents – formaldehyde-free resins (e.g., DMDHEU alternatives)
• Water repellents – silicones, fluorocarbons
• Flame retardants – phosphorus- or nitrogen-based compounds
• Antimicrobial agents – silver-based, zinc compounds
• Anti-static agents – quaternary ammonium compounds
• Optical brighteners – enhance fabric whiteness under UV light

🌿 4. Eco-friendly & Green Alternatives

• Enzymes – for scouring, desizing, biopolishing
• Natural dyes – plant-based colorants
• Formaldehyde-free resins & fixatives
• Bio-based surfactants

🧪 5. Specialty Chemicals

• Coating agents – for technical textiles (e.g., acrylics, polyurethanes)
• UV absorbers – for light resistance
• Functional finishes – for anti-odor, mosquito-repellent, or stain-release properties

In short, chemical products in textiles are essential for ensuring fabric quality, performance, and compliance with consumer and environmental safety standards.

In the textile industry, solvents are used for dissolving, dispersing, or removing substances during processes like dyeing, printing, cleaning, coating, and finishing. The choice of solvent depends on the fabric type, chemical compatibility, and environmental regulations.

Here are the main solvents used in the textile industry:

🧪 1. Organic Solvents

These are used for dyeing synthetic fibers, stain removal, and solvent-based coatings.

Common Types:

• Benzyl alcohol – carrier solvent in disperse dyeing of polyester
• Acetone – degreasing, cleaning, and printing ink formulation
• Toluene – used in pigment printing pastes and coating formulations
• Xylene – used in printing and as a solvent for synthetic resins
• Ethyl acetate / Butyl acetate – in coatings and synthetic finishes
• Chlorobenzene – solvent for disperse dyes and in polyester dyeing
• Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) – solvent in synthetic coatings and inks

💧 2. Aqueous-Based Solvents (Water-based Systems)

• Water – primary solvent for most dyeing and finishing operations (especially with reactive, direct, and acid dyes)
• Alcohol-water mixtures – sometimes used for dye solutions or washing

🌱 3. Eco-Friendly or Green Solvents

• Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) – used in some specialty textile processes
• Propylene carbonate – biodegradable solvent alternative
• Ionic liquids and supercritical CO₂ – emerging in sustainable dyeing of polyester and nylon (low water use)

⚠️ 4. Restricted or Phased-Out Solvents

Due to toxicity or environmental harm, some solvents are heavily regulated:

• Carbon tetrachloride
• Perchloroethylene
• Chloroform
• Chlorinated hydrocarbons in general

🔧 Typical Uses of Solvents in Textiles:

• Solvent dyeing of polyester
• Printing paste preparation
• Fabric stain cleaning
• Solvent-based PU/AC coatings
• Resin formulation for water-repellent or anti-static finishes