Reactive Dyes - Classification | Properties

What is Reactive Dye?

Reactive dye is a class of dye that makes a covalent bond with the fiber and becomes an integral part of the fiber. These are usually used to dye cellulosic fibers such as cotton, rayon, or flax, but polyamide, wool, silk, and acetate fibers can also be dyed using reactive dyes.
Reactive dyes are so-called because this is the only type of dye that has a reactive group. This group reacts chemically with the fiber polymer molecules to form covalent bonds. This covalent bond is formed between the reactive group and terminal –OH group of cellulosic fibers and terminal –NH₂ group of polyamide and wool fiber.
If we assume the general structure of reactive dye is S–F–T–X, then this can be described as:

S–F–T–X + fibre = S–F–T–X–fibre

Where,

S = Solubilising groups (such as SO3Na or COONa or combination of both)
F = Chromophoric group usually an azo, metal-complex azo, anthraquinone, etc.
T = Bridging group which attaches the reactive system X to the chromogen F; Usually, –NH, –O–, –NHCO–, –OCH3–, –SO3–, etc.

X = Reactive system or group, which reacts chemically with the functional group of the fibre

Here’s an example of reactive dye with its various parts:

Structure of Reactive Dye — Various Parts of A Reactive Dye

Some Trade Names of Reactive Dyes

Brand Name	Manufacturer	Country
Procion	I.C.I.	UK
Novacron	Huntsman	Switzerland
Remazol	Hoecht	Germany
Levafix	Bayer	Germany
Reactone	Geigy	Switzerland
Primazin	BASF	Germany
Drimarine	Sandoz	Switzerland

Classification of Reactive Dyes

1. On the Basis of Reactive Group

Halogen

Triazine group: Procion, Cibacron
pyrimidine group: Reactone
Quinoxaline group: Levafix

Activated Vinyl Compound

Vinyl sulphone: Remazol
Vinyl acrylamide: Primazine
Vinyl sulphonamide: Levafix

2. On the Basis of Reactivity

Lower reactive dye: pH is maintained 12-12.5 using NaOH in bath
Medium reactive dye: pH is maintained 11-12 by Na₂CO₃
Higher reactive dye: pH is maintained 10-11 using NaHCO₃

3. On the Basis of Dyeing Temperature

Cold Brand Reactive Dyes

These types of dyes contain reactive groups of high reactivity. So dyeing can be done in lower temperature i.e. 32-60°C. For example: PROCION M, LIVAFIX E

Medium Brand Reactive Dyes

This type of dyes contains reactive groups of moderate reactivity. So dyeing is done at higher temperatures than that of cold brand dyes i.e. in between 60-71°C temperatures. For example, Remazol, Levafix are medium brand dyes.

Hot Brand Reactive Dyes

This type of dye contains reactive groups of least reactivity. So high temperature is required for dyeing i.e. 72-93°C temperature is required for dyeing. For example, PROCION H, CIBACRON are hot brand dyes.

Recent Classification of Reactive Dyes

Type	Reactivity	Condition	Temperature	Reactive Group
Salt Controllable	Low reactivity in alkaline conditions	Appreciable substantivity, careful addition of salt is required.	80°C temperature.	Monochloro Triazine, Monofloro Triazine, Trichloro Pyrimidine.
Alkali controllable	High reactivity	Moderate substantivity, careful control of the addition of alkali is required.	Applicable at low temperature.	Dichloro Triazine, Diflorochloro Pyrimidine, Vinyl Sulphone.
Temperature controllable	–	Can be applied in neutral conditions	Applicable in high temperatures.	NT.

Dyeing Mechanism of Reactive Dyes

The dyeing of material with reactive dye takes place in 3 stages –

Fiber Reactive Dyeing Steps — Dyeing Mechanism of Reactive Dyes

Exhaustion of dye in presence of electrolyte or dye absorption
Fixation under the influence of alkali
Wash-off of the unfixed dye from material surface

Absorption of Reactive Dyes

When fibre is immersed in dye liquor, an electrolyte is added to assist the exhaustion of dye. Here NaCl is used as the electrolyte. This electrolyte neutralizes cotton and helps absorption. So when the textile material is introduces to dye liquor the dye is exhausted on to the fibre.

Fixation of Reactive Dyes

Fixation of dye means the reaction of reactive group of dye with terminal –OH or –NH₂ group of fibre and thus forming strong covalent bond with the fibre .
This is an important phase, which is controlled by maintaining proper pH by adding alkali.The alkali used for creates proper pH in dye bath and work as the dye-fixing agent. The reactions that take place in this stage are shown below:

Fixation Mechanism of Reactive Dyes — Nucleophilic substitution (a) and addition reactions (b) of reactive dyes with cellulose

Types of Fixation Reaction

There are mainly two types of reactions that occur. These are –

Neucleofilic Substitution Reaction

Cell–OH + HO^– ⇒ Cell–O^– + H₂O

Cell–O^–+ Dye–Cl ⇒ Cell–O–Dye + Cl^–

Neucleofilic Addition Reaction

Cell–O^–+ Dye–SO₂–CH=CH₂ ⇒ Dye–SO₂–CH=CH₂–O–Cell

Wash-off of Reactive Dyes

As the dyeing is completed, a good wash must be applied to the material to remove extra and unfixed dyes from material surface. This is necessary for level dyeing and good wash-fastness. It is done by a series of hot wash, cold wash and soap solution wash.

Properties of Reactive Dyes

All types of shades are available from these dyes.
Reactive dyes are found in powder, liquid, and print-paste form.
Reactive dyes are soluble in water.
They have very good light fastness with a rating of 6. The dyes have very stable electron arrangements and can protect the degrading effect of ultra-violet rays.
Textile materials dyed with reactive dyes have very good wash fastness with a rating of 4-5 due to strong covalent bonds formed between fibre polymer and reactive group of dye.
Reactive dye gives brighter shades and has moderate rubbing fastness.
Reactive dyes have good perspiration fastness with rating 4-5.

Factors to Be Considered During Reactive Dyeing

pH – Strong alkaline pH is required ranging from 10.5-11.2.
Temperature – Dyeing temperature depends on the brand of dye used.
Concentration of electrolyte – The depth of shade is the determining factor of electrolyte concentration.
Time – Ranges from 60-90 minutes.
Liquor ratio – Higher liquor ratio gives better efficiency.

Reactive Dye Hydrolysis

Reactive dyes are activated when used to color cellulose in an alkaline solution. However, if the dye’s concentration is kept for a long period of time, it will eventually lose its potency. The dye then reacts with the hydroxyl group of water. This process in which a dye interacts with water is known as reactive dye hydrolysis.

The decomposition of the dye proceeds in two stages. The concentration of dye increases at first, followed by a decrease. The concentration of hydroxyl compound rises continuously as a result of this hydrolysis process. Then the hydroxyl compound is unable to react with the dye

Stripping of Reactive Dyes

The reactive dye cannot be satisfactorily stripped from fibre due to the covalent bond between dye molecule and fibre. Stripping becomes necessary when uneven dyeing occurs.

Partial Stripping of Reactive Dyes

Partial stripping is obtained by treating the dyed fabric with dilute acetic acid or formic acid. Here the temperature is raised to 70-100°C. The amount of acid used is as below:

Glacial acetic acid: 5-10 parts
With water: 1000 parts

Formic acid: 2.5 to 10 parts
With water: 1000 parts
Temperature: 70 – 100°C
Time: until desired shade is obtained.

Advantages of Reactive Dyeing

Brilliant, bright colours
Permanency of the colour
Covalent fixation – high Wash Fastness (WF)
Various temperatures, including low energy (cold dyeing)

Disadvantages of Reactive Dyeing

Incomplete fixation (problem with hydrolysis)
Need for wash-off (for high WF)
Need for high concentrations of salt
Color is not easily removed by effluent treatment processes and in many cases, the dyes are not readily biodegradable

Precautions for Reactive Dyeing

Hot water should not be used for high reactive dyes because there will be a possibility of hydrolysis.
Prepared dye solution can not be stored for later use also because of dye hydrolysis.
For making print paste, low reactive dyes are used.
It is dangerous if there is the inhalation of the dust of reactive dyes, so a protective mask is required.
A limited storage period is applicable to most of the reactive dye.

How Does Temperature Affect the Dyeing Process with Fiber Reactive Dyes?

Temperature’s impact on fiber reactive dyes is significant in the dyeing process. It mainly depends on the type of reactive dye you are using.

Generally speaking, higher temperatures help facilitate the chemical reaction between the dye and the fibers, resulting in a faster and more uniform color absorption. At the same time, it also promotes a higher rate of hydrolysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why are bifunctional reactive dyes preferable?

They have more than one identical functional group present in their structure. So, the degree of fixation is higher because if one functional group gets hydrolyzed, others will remain unhydrolyzed. Also, strict process control is not necessary.

2. Why reactive dyes were developed?

The main reason behind the discovery of reactive dye is that direct dyes have inferior wash fastness properties with cotton. Also, the dyeing of cotton with sulfur and vat dyes includes a very complicated process.

3. When did we discover the fiber reactive dyes?

During the 1900s, the idea of incorporating dyes with a covalent bond into the fiber was first generated. In 1955, Stephen and Rattee (ICI, England) first dyed cotton with dichlorotriazine reactive group-containing dye.

4. What is dye hydrolysis in reactive dyeing?

The most common problem of reactive dyeing is dye hydrolysis. In alkaline conditions, hydroxide ion also reacts with the reactive group of the dye like the fiber, and hydrolyzed dye is generated. The hydrolyzed dye can not react with fiber, and the efficiency of the fixation is decreased.

After dyeing, the hydrolyzed dye should be removed by washing. Otherwise, the wash fastness will be reduced.

5. Are reactive dyes colorfast?

They show good to excellent fastness to different wet processing, although incomplete removal of unreacted and hydrolyzed dye causes poor washing fastness. Lightfastness is moderate to good. Fastness to peroxides and bleaching by chlorine is also moderate.

6. Can I use a fiber reactive dye for tie dye?

Of course, you can tie dye with reactive dyes. In fact, this is the type of dye molecules that are marketed as Procion dyes for cellulosic fibers. Their use is not limited to solid colors only.

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