Reactive dye

In a reactive dye a chromophore(an atom or group whose presence is responsible for the colour of a compound) contains a substituent that reacts with the substrate. Reactive dyes have good fastness properties owing to the bonding that occurs during dyeing. Reactive dyes are most commonly used in dyeing of cellulose like cotton or flax, but also wool is dyeable with reactive dyes. Reactive dyeing is the most important method for the coloration of cellulosic fibres. Reactive dyes can also be applied on wool and nylon; in the latter case they are applied under weakly acidic conditions. Reactive dyes have a low utilization degree compared to other types of dyestuff, since the functional group also bonds to water, creating hydrolysis.

Reactive dyes had been tested in the late 1800s involving both adding functionalized dyes to the substrate and then activating the substrate first followed by fixation of the dye. The first commercial success was described in the early 1950s. Rattee and Stephens at Imperial Chemical Industries popularlized the chlorotriazines as linkers between the substrate and the chromophore.

Trichlorotriazines remain a popular platform for reactive dyes. The chromophore, with an amine functional group, is attached to the triazine, displacing one chloride:

The resulting dichlorotriazine can then be affixed to the cellulose fibre by displacement of one of the two chloride groups:

The fixation process is conducted in a buffered alkaline dye bath.

An alternative fixation process that is more dominant commercially is the vinylsulfonyl group. Like the chlorotriazines, this functional group adds to the hydroxyl groups of cellulose. The most popular version of this technology is Remazol. The dye is first attached to the ethylsulfonyl group.

Reactive dyes are categorized by functional group.

Dyestuffs with only one functional group sometimes have a low degree of fixation. To overcome this deficiency, dyestuffs containing two (or more) different reactive groups were developed. These dyestuffs containing two groups are also known as bifunctional dyestuffs although some still refer to the original combination. Some contain two monochlorotriazines, others have a combination of the triazines and one vinyl sulfone group). Bifunctional dyes can be more tolerant to temperature deviations (better process). Other bifunctionals have been created, some with fastness (better quality) or only fixation degree (better environment/economy) in mind.

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