VAT DYES

VAT DYES
VAT dyeing means dyeing in a bucket or vat.
An ancient class of dye, which has been derived from
indigo.
Insoluble in water.
Vatting process is needed to make insoluble vat dyes into
soluble form.
Possess affinity to cellulosic fibres.

PROPERTIES
Natural color dyeing
They have excellent all round fastness
Insoluble in water
In their soluble forms they behave like direct dyes and hence can be dyed on
cotton and other cellulosic fibres
Application of vat dyes is limited in practical life.
Good to excellent stability of colour

APPLICABLE ON
Cellulosic
Fibres

Silk
Silk

Rayon
Rayon

Nylon
Nylon
Wool
Wool

Polyester and
cotton blends.
Extensively
used for
dyeing yarns.

Cotto
Cotto
n
n

Linen
Linen

USES
Superior Quality Shirting Material.
Military Uniforms
Sports wear
Denims
Drapery fabrics
Furnishing, Curtains, Toweling etc.

CLASSIFICATIO
N OF VAT DYES
ON THE BASIS OF
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ON THE BASIS OF
APPLICATION OF THE DYE

DYEING PROCESS

Reduction or
Vatting

Dyeing

Oxidation

Soaping

REDUCTION
TEMPERATURE

30-60 degree celcius

depending upon
dyestuff
pH Above 8

STOCHIOMETRIC
REQUIREMENT 1
mole of Na2S2O4 , 2
moles of NaOH

AUXILARIES USED
Na2S2O4 , NaOH in
EXCESS
TIME 15min- 1hour

Vat Dyes are insoluble, in order to apply them to the fabric, they are made
soluble by the process of REDUCTION by Sodium Hydro Sulphate and sodium
Hydroxide.

In case of Anthriquinone

The following is the reduction of Anthriquinone derived Vat Dye, which also
takes place with the help of Sodium Hydro sulphate and Sodium Hydroxide

IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS OF VAT

DYE REDUCING AGENT ARE AS
FOLLOWS:

Sufficient reducing
power to reduce all
commercial vat dyes
to their water
soluble form, quickly
and economically.
No over-reduction.

THE RATE OF REDUCTION OF VAT

DYES DEPENDS UPON VARIOUS
FACTORS:

Particle size of the

dye
The temperature,
time and pH during
reduction
Concentration of the
reducing agent

DYEING
Yarn is inserted in the dye bath and the temperature is gradually
raised to the dyeing temperature 20 deg.C - 60 deg.C, depending
on the type of dyes used.
The well scoured wet yarn is entered in the dye bath and turned
several times, to maintain the affinity of the color.
The yarn is then kept completely immersed under the dye liquor
and the dyeing is continued for 1 hour
Dyeing continues for the required time and salt may be added to
assist in exhaustion.
Since atmospheric oxygen reacts with the reducing agent as well
as with the reduced vat dye, additional amounts of the reducing
agent and the base are added during the dyeing stage.
The dye-bath is checked occasionally to ensure that the pH of the
bath is sufficiently basic.

Based on temperature, amount of caustic soda,

Hydro-sulphite and salt, used in dyeing, vat dyes can be
Classified into four main groups:

IN dyes: Require high temperature (75 degree Celsius), large

amount of caustic soda and sodium hydrosulphite

IW dyes: Require medium temperature (45-70 degree Celsius),

medium amount of caustic soda and sodium hydrosulphite with salt
added.

IK dyes :Require low temperature (20-30 degree celsius) ,small

amount of caustic soda and sodium hydrosulphite with salt added.

IN Special dyes: Require more caustic soda and higher temperature

than IN dyes.

METHODS OF DYEING
The machines used for dyeing are :

Jigger machine for open width fabrics IN BATCH PROCESS

Pad dyeing machine for open width fabric FOR
CONTINUOUS or SEMI CONTINUOUS process.

Also used are :

Package and beam machines for yarn

Winches/ Jet dyeing machines for knitted fabrics in rope
form

OXIDATION

Before oxidation, the material is rinsed to remove residues

of sodium hydroxide and reducing agent.
Soluble form of the dye absorbed by the fibre.
And reconverted into the original insoluble dye by
atmospheric oxygen (Airing)or by the use of chemical
oxidation.
Oxidizing agents used:
Sodium
Chloride
(NaCl)

Hydrogen
peroxide
( H2O2)

Hypochlorit
e

SOAPING
After oxidation, the pigment is in molecular form and is loosely held
in between the cellulose molecules
During the soaping the dye molecules , under the influence of heat
and lubrication by the detergent, migrate and come close to one an
other to form submicroscopic crystals in the fissure/gap of the fiber.
Crystals have different absorption spectra so true solid shade
produced after soaping.
Crystallization process increase size of the dye particle, increased
wet fastness.
Detergent 1 2 g/l
Sodium carbonate 2 g/l
Boils for 30 minutes
Then rinsed with hot and cold water.

SOME FAMOUS
TRADE NAMES

Amarnthrene
Benzanthrene
Calconoid
Carbenthrene
Indanthrene
Navidon
Navinon
Solanthrene
Supranthrene

It is available in the following

colours and their tone variation
:
Black

Brown

Voilet
Blue

Yellow

Orang
e

Red

Green

MAJOR MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA

Colurex (Mumbai)
Shree nath ji dye stuff (Delhi)
Asiatic color Chem ltd. (Ahmedabad)
Karsandas Mavji (Mumbai)
Atman Associates (Ahmedabad)
Arlex chemi (P) Ltd. (Mumbai)
Jay Khodiyar chemicals (Ankleshwar)
Balaji Industries (Ahmedabad)

USAGE OF DIFFERENT
DYES AROUND THE
WORLD

The use of VAT dyes is slowly declining due to expensive and

polluting nature.

We see that the dye consumption in Asia is the highest as the maximum
process of fabric colouration and finishes has the highest market and
manufacturers.

ADVANTAGES OF VAT DYES

Good to excellent fastness to:

Washing

Sunlight

Rubbing

Perspiration

hypochlorite bleaching
Superior appearance.
Stability of colour is excellent

DISADVANTAGES

Incapable of dyeing fibres directly.

Insoluble in water and hence need to be reduced.
Manufacturing can be polluting.
Expensive.
Incomplete colour range.
Because of the high alkali concentration in the dye bath,
pure vat dyes cannot be used on animal fibres, (wool,
natural silk, & various hairs).

REFERENCES
Textiles Sara J Kadolph
The Theory of colouration of textiles Alan
Johnson
The Dyeing of Textile Materials jose cegarra
Chemical properties of synthetic fibre dyeing
S.M. Burkinshaw
Dyeing and Chemical technology of Textile
Fibres Trotman
www.nptel.in

The End !

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