11.1 Dyeing of Cotton With Vat Dyes
11.1 Dyeing of Cotton With Vat Dyes
11.1 Dyeing of Cotton With Vat Dyes
Session – 11.1
Praveen D Nagarajan
DYEING OF COTTON WITH VAT DYES
• The dye bath is initially set with sodium hydroxide and sodium
hydrosulphite alone along with required quantity water. The
material is treated in this blank bath (without dye) for 10
minutes.
• Then the vatted dyes are added. The temperature is raised to
60°C. Dyeing is continued for 45 - 60 minutes.
• In order that the vat dyes are always in reduced form ( i.e. soluble
form ), the necessary quantities of sodium hydroxide and sodium
hydrosulphite are split into two or three parts to add in
instalments after every 15 minutes.
• In jigger dyeing, these addition may take place after every 2 ends.
Oxidation Process
• After dyeing for 45 -60 minutes, the dyed material is rinsed to
remove loose dyes and the chemicals.
• To restore the original shade and to make the soluble dyes
which are inside the fibre into insoluble ones, oxidation
process is carried out.
• In cottage industries, the dyed fabric is hung under shelters to
have air oxidation, but chemical oxidation is preferable.
• Oxidation can be done with 2 volume hydrogen peroxide
solution and 10 gpl acetic acid ( 50% ), at 40 - 50°C for a
period of 15 - 70 minutes.
Soaping
• Soaping treatment at boil with 3 gpl soap and
2 gpl soda ash for 20 – 30 minutes remove the
loosely held vat dyes deposited on the
surface. Further, the dyes inside the fibre
aggregate and true shade is developed, only
after soaping.
• Also, the dyed material will have excellent
fastness to rubbing, washing and other
agencies.