Dye Fixing Agents and accelerators

dye fixing agent

Dye Fixing Agent – Supplied by Tex Aux Chemicals

Tex Aux Chemicals is a leading and trusted name in the textile chemical industry, offering high-performance dye fixing agents that ensure excellent color fastness and long-lasting shades. With decades of expertise and a strong presence in the market, we are proud to supply one of the most cost-effective and eco-friendly ranges of dye fixers tailored to meet the specific needs of the textile industry.

Our dye fixing agents are specially formulated to enhance wash, rubbing, and perspiration fastness, particularly in reactive, direct, and sulfur dyed fabrics. They work by forming a strong bond between the dye molecules and fiber, effectively reducing dye bleeding and improving fabric durability. Whether you’re working with cotton, blends, or synthetics, Tex Aux provides the ideal solution for consistent, vibrant results.

Products with compliance

At Tex Aux, we prioritize both performance and sustainability. All our products are formaldehyde-free, APEO-free, and compliant with REACH, ZDHC, and GOTS norms—making them safe for both the environment and end-users. Our efficient formulations require low dosages, saving water, energy, and cost while delivering superior results.

Tex Aux Chemicals is more than just a supplier; we are your technical partner in quality assurance. Our loyal customer base values the consistent supply, reliable performance, and personalized technical support that come with every batch of product. With a robust manufacturing and distribution network, we ensure timely delivery and unwavering product quality.

Choose Tex Aux Chemicals for your dye fixing needs and experience the benefits of proven expertise, customer satisfaction, and a greener tomorrow. Join the many textile processors who trust us to keep their colors bright, their processes efficient, and their environmental footprint minimal.

Following are our range of products: 

Lyofix-FC/FC-conc

A cationic dye-fixing agent, with high molecular weight, for fixing of cellulose dyed / printed with direct and reactive.

Lyofix-FC/FC-conc

Cationic Dye fixing agents with no formaldehyde content to improve wash- fastness of reactive dyed yarn / fabrics with minimal tone-change & effect on light fastness.

Texfluid-AC

An economical anti crease lubricant to prevent crease marks in cotton as well as polyester printing & dyeing stage of operation in rope form

Texfluid-ACA

A concentrated Poly Acrylate based lubricating agent and crease preventing agent for natural and synthetic fibres and their blends

Hylube-ACA

Specialty emulsifier and friction controller

Texprint-LAN/LAN-conc

A versatile product to enhance colour depth in loop ager for disperse prints

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The chemical used to fix dyes depends on the type of dye and fiber, but commonly used dye-fixing chemicals include:

✅ 1. Cationic Fixing Agents

  • Chemical family: Quaternary ammonium compounds or polyamines
  • Example: PolyDADMAC (Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride))
  • Use: Fixes reactive, direct, and acid dyes on cotton and synthetic fibers
  • Mechanism: Forms ionic bonds with negatively charged dye molecules to prevent bleeding and improve wash fastness

✅ 2. Formaldehyde-Based Fixatives (now restricted)

  • Chemical: DMDHEU (dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea)
  • Use: Previously common with cellulose fabrics dyed with direct/reactive dyes
  • Note: Phased out or limited due to formaldehyde release, which is hazardous to health

✅ 3. Formaldehyde-Free Fixatives

  • Chemical types: Modified polyamines, polyurethane derivatives, polycarboxylic acids
  • Eco-friendly, compliant with REACH, ZDHC, GOTS
  • Use: Widely used in modern dyeing processes, especially in sustainable textile production

✅ 4. Cross-linking Agents

  • Chemicals: Polycarboxylic acids, citric acid, BTCA (1,2,3,4-Butanetetracarboxylic acid)
  • Use: Improve bonding between fiber and dye, mainly for reactive dyes

✅ 5. Metal Salts (rare today)

  • Chemicals: Chromium, copper, or aluminum salts
  • Use: Previously used with acid dyes on wool or nylon
  • Note: Largely discontinued due to toxicity and environmental risks

Summary:
Today, the most widely used and safest chemical class for fixing dyes is formaldehyde-free cationic fixatives, offering strong performance while being safe for workers, consumers, and the environment.

 

Several substances can be used as dye fixatives depending on the fiber type, dye class, and desired fastness. Below are the main categories of dye fixatives used in the textile industry:

✅ 1. Cationic Fixatives (Most Common)

  • What it is: Quaternary ammonium salts or polyamines
  • Use for: Reactive, direct, and acid dyes on cotton, viscose, nylon
  • Example: PolyDADMAC, polyethylene polyamine condensates
  • Function: Neutralizes anionic dye charges to reduce bleeding and improve wash/rub fastness

✅ 2. Formaldehyde-Free Fixatives (Eco-Friendly Choice)

  • What it is: Modified polyamines, polycarboxylic acids, or polyurethanes
  • Use for: Sensitive applications (baby wear, eco-textiles)
  • Brands/Examples: Tex Aux’s formaldehyde-free dye fixatives, Dyesperse Fix FF
  • Compliance: REACH, GOTS, ZDHC, OEKO-TEX® certified

✅ 3. Cross-linking Agents

  • What it is: BTCA (butanetetracarboxylic acid), citric acid
  • Use for: Reactive dyes on cellulosic fibers
  • Function: Forms covalent bonds between dye and fiber for better durability

✅ 4. Metal Salt Mordants (Traditional, Now Limited)

  • What it is: Alum (potassium aluminum sulfate), copper sulfate, iron sulfate
  • Use for: Acid dyes on wool or historical dyeing of natural fibers
  • Note: Environmentally restricted due to heavy metal content

✅ 5. Natural Fixatives (for hand-dyeing)

  • What it is: Tannins, vinegar, salt, alum
  • Use for: Small-scale or artisanal fabric dyeing
  • Note: Less durable than industrial fixatives

✔️ Best Option Today:

Formaldehyde-free cationic fixatives are the most effective and environmentally safe for commercial textile dyeing.

 

A dye fixer solution is a liquid formulation containing one or more chemicals—usually cationic compounds or cross-linking agents—designed to improve the color fastness of dyed textiles. It is applied after the dyeing process to help fix the dye more firmly to the fabric, reducing issues like color bleeding, fading, or staining during washing or rubbing.

🔬 What it Contains:

  • Main active agent:
    • Cationic polymers (e.g., polyamines, polyquaternary ammonium salts like PolyDADMAC)
    • Formaldehyde-free alternatives (e.g., polycarboxylic acids, polyurethanes)
  • Additives (optional):
    • Wetting agents
    • Antifoaming agents
    • pH stabilizers

🧪 How It Works:

  • Cationic dye fixers form electrostatic bonds with anionic dyes like reactive, direct, and acid dyes, anchoring them to the fiber.
  • Cross-linking fixers chemically bond the dye to the fiber (especially in cotton dyed with reactive dyes), improving fastness properties.

🧵 Common Applications:

  • After reactive or direct dyeing of cotton and viscose
  • After acid dyeing of wool, silk, or nylon
  • To improve wash fastness, rubbing fastness, and perspiration resistance

✅ Benefits of Dye Fixer Solutions:

  • Enhances durability of color
  • Reduces re-dyeing or reprocessing
  • Saves water and energy by minimizing post-wash bleeding
  • Essential in eco-compliant textile production

In summary, a dye fixer solution is an essential post-dyeing chemical used to lock in color, ensuring the finished textile retains its appearance and performance through repeated use and laundering.

 

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