DISPERSE DYES

Unlike many other types of dyes, disperse dyes are far less water soluble than other dyes such as acid dyes. As a result, disperse dyes are more commonly used in dye bath solutions. Disperse dyes achieve their best results when the dying process takes place at high temperatures. Specifically, solutions around 120°C to 130°C enable disperse dyes to perform at their optimal levels, enabling the dye to be more evenly distributed and more bold, while at lower temperatures, disperse dyes may result in uneven and less vibrant coloring results.

What are Disperse Dyes used for?

Due to their chemical properties and the behavior detailed above, disperse dyes are typically used for coloring synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, and acetate rayon. Most forms of polyester are hydrophobic and lack ionic properties, which makes them nearly impossible to color with anything other than disperse dyes.

In addition, at regular temperatures, even when submerged in a dye bath, polyester fibers do not swell, making it difficult for dye molecules to interact with the material. Even at the boiling temperature—100°C —the dyeing of polyester is problematic.

For this reason, when dyeing polyester, disperse dyes are used in dye bath solutions at temperatures around 20 to 30° higher than the boiling point of the dye bath solution. At these elevated temperatures required to color polyester, disperse dyes are known to maintain their molecular integrity. For the same reasons that disperse dyes are used to dye polyester, they are also used to dye other synthetic materials that are nonionic. The fact that disperse dyes possess no cationic or anionic tendencies is perhaps the most classifiable characteristic of disperse dyes.

Disperse dyes can also be used in resins and plastics for surface and general coloring uses.

Contact us to speak to one of our experts so we can work with you to ensure you select the right disperse dye for your colorant needs!