Experiment No # 6
Title: To dye 100% cotton fabric using vat dye by exhaust method.
Abstract:
The main objective of the experiment was to dye the 100% cotton fabric sample by using
vat dye. Vat dyes are insoluble in water, in order to make them soluble, they should be
reduced first. For reduction NaHSO3 is used. In this reduced and leuco form, vat dyes are
substantive to cellulosic fibers. Vat dyes are insoluble in water, so we have to convert
them int their leuco(soluble form). Once they are soluble in water they can be applied on
the cotton fabric. The leuco form is substantive to cellulosic fibers. The colour of the vat
dyes disappear in the leuco form. After the application of vat dye on the fabric we have
to convert it into insoluble parent dye(original colour) which is usually done by reduction
with hydrogen peroxide. I concluded that salt helps in the exhaustion of dye molecules
from liquor to the inner chains of the fabric. Higher the temperature, lesser will be the
time required to achieve the required dyeing efficiency.
Theory:
Introduction:
Water insoluble dyes.
The name was derived from the large wooden vessel from which vat dyes were first
applied.
Vat dyes provide textile materials with the best colour fastness of all the dyes.
The fibers most readily colored with vat dyes are the natural and man made cellulosic
fibers.
Classification of Vat Dyes:
They are classified as:
1. Indigo Based Vat Dyes:
Indigo was first a naturally cultivated dye which was principally grown in every part of
the world. Indigo has become quite important in dyeing full shades of navy blue on
wool, for uniform cloth of good fasteners. While dyeing, it is reduced by hydrosulphite,
to make the alkali soluble leuco derivative or to make indigo white.
Figure 1: Indigo Vat Dye
2. Anthraquinone based vat dye:
Anthraquinone vat dyes are mostly solid in the insoluble oxidised form, sometimes as
dry solids but more often as quneous pastes. They are applied in the reduced form as
'Vats', the reduction 'being affected by the use of sodium hydrosulphite under strongly
alkaline conditions
The excellent fastness properties of textile material colored with vat dyes is attributed in
part to the very large size of the vat dye molecule and in part to its aqueous insolubility.
In general, vat dyes based on anthraquinone have better fastness properties than the vat
dyes derived from indigo.
Figure 2: Anthraquinone Vat Dye
Mechanism of Dyeing:
The application of vat dyes to cellulosic materials occurs in five steps:
1. Aqueous dispersion: The insoluble vat dye is dispersed in water.
2. Vatting: This step involves the chemical reduction of vat dye to produce soluble,
reduced or leuco form of the dye. This is achieved by sodium hydrosulphite, sodium
hydroxide and water. Vatting stage also alters the original color of the dye.
3. Absorption of the dye molecules by fibers: The vatted dye molecules are
substantive to the cellulosic material. To achieve adequate exhaustion an electrolyte
is added to the dye liquor and the temperature may be increased depending on the
specific vat dye. During this stage textile material must be kept immersed in the dye
liquor to prevent the premature oxidation of the leuco compound.
4. Reoxidation: Once dye in the polymer system of the fiber, vatted form of the dye has
to be oxidized and converted back to its original color and the insoluble form of the
dye.
5. Soaping: Insoluble vat dye, which during previous stage may be deposit on the
surface of the textile material, has to be removed to prevent poor rub-fastness as well
as a possible change of shade due to subsequent removal of this surface deposit.
Material is boiled in presence of some suitable detergent.
Properties of Vat Dyes:
Following are the main properties of vat dyes:
Light fastness rating of vat dyes is about 7. The excellent light fastness of textiles
colored with vat dyes is attributed to the stable electron arrangement in chromophores
of the vat dye.
The Wash fastness rating of the vat dye is about 4-5. The excellent Wash fastness of
textile dyed with vat dyes is attributed to the large vat dye molecule as well as its
aqueous insolubility.
Rubbing properties are not good.
Vat dyes are natural colouring dyes.
Vat dyes are insoluble in water.
Vatting is needed for making insoluble vat dyes into soluble form.
Final color is developed by the oxidation process.
Vat dyes are mainly used for colouring cellulosic fibers.
Wide range of colours can be achieved.
Vat dyes are expensive in price.
Materials:
100% Cotton fabric sample
Beaker
Stirrer
Measuring cylinder
Weigh balance
Vat dye
Reducing Agent(NaHSO3)
NaOH
Oxidizing agent(H2O2)
Salt(NaCl)
Recipe:
For Dyeing :
Vat dye = 4% O.W.F
NaHSO3 = 8g/l
NaOH = 2-3g/l
NaCl = 2g/l
Conditions Required:
Temperature = 80-100ºC
Time = 30 min.
Process:
Reduction → Application→ Rinsing→ Oxidation → Soaping→ Dry
Procedure:
We took 1.5 liter water in the jigger. In it, we added 2.80g of vat dye, 12g of NaHSO3
and 5g of NaOH and 3g NaCl.
Now we fixed the fabric on the rollers of the jigger and the prepaired liquor was
poured in the jigger.
Then we operated the fabric in the jigger for 30 minutes at 80-100oC.
After 30 minutes, we rinsed the dyed fabric.
Now we oxidized the fabric by dipping it in the H2O2 solution in water (2g/l) at 40
o
C for 15 minutes.
After that we washed the fabric in soap solution.
At last, we dried the fabric by placing it in the heater.
Observations & Calculations:
We used X liter of water in the jigger. So calculations will be made according to it.
Weight of fabric = Y
Sulphur Dye:
A% O.W.F
B dye = C fabric
B/C dye = D fabric
E fabric = (D)xE dye
= F dye
Results:
Following is the vat dyed 100% cotton fabric sample:
Discussion:
Light fastness rating of vat dyes is about 7. the excellent light fastness f textiles colored
with vat dyes is attributed to the stable electron arrangement in chromophores of the vat
dye. The Wash fastness rating of the vat dye is about 4-5. The excellent Wash fastness of
textile dyed with vat dyes is attributed to the large vat dye molecule as well as its aqueous
insolubility. Vat dyes are insoluble in water, so we have to convert them int their
leuco(soluble form). Once they are soluble in water they can be applied on the cotton
fabric. The leuco form is substantive to cellulosic fibers. The colour of the vat dyes
disappear in the leuco form. After the application of vat dye on the fabric we have to
convert it into insoluble parent dye(original colour) which is usually done by reduction
with hydrogen peroxide.
Conclusion:
Dyeing of 100% cotton fabric with vat dye was studied by us. The process parameters
such as amount of dye, salt, alkali, NaHSO3, temperature and reaction time was optimized
to achieve the required dyeing efficiency. Higher the temperature, lesser will be the time
required to achieve the required dyeing efficiency. I concluded that vat dyes are insoluble
in water. So they must be reduced to convert them into soluble leuco form and then these
dyes can be applied on the cellulosic fabric. After the application we have to reoxidize
the vat dyes.
References:
http://textilefashionstudy.com/what-is-vat-dyes-properties-of-vat-dyes/
https://textilelearner.blogspot.com/2012/03/why-so-called-vat-dye-classification-of.html
https://textilelearner.blogspot.com/2012/01/vat-dyeing-process-textile-dyeing.html
https://www.slideshare.net/saimalatif1/vatdyes
