Disperse dye is an organic and insoluble coloring dye that is used to color synthetic fibers. Disperse dye contains the smaller molecules compared to all other dyes.
They have low water solubility and are free from ionizing groups. There are different types of disperse dyes such as Nitro Dye, Amino Ketone Dyes, Mono azo Dyes, among others. It is not effective to use disperse dye on natural fabrics but it can be used on blends of polyester and cotton. There are a number of techniques used with it.
Here are a few steps to follow when using disperse dye in textile or fabric printing.
Always make sure that the fabric that is going to be used is ready for dyeing. This means that it should not contain any oils or starch. If it does, use a non-ionic detergent and rinse thoroughly. Make sure to use only warm water.
One important thing to note is to always make sure that you have the right combination of the fabric and the dye.
Because disperse dye is insoluble in water, a surface active agent is also added with it to create an aqueous solution.
Do not over-do it and add too much dye or too much water. Weigh the disperse dye powder in grams and use a measuring can for the water in order to get the perfect amount. Only use a wooden, plastic or stainless steel to mix this solution.
Heating is an important part of dyeing fabrics. Heating the solution usually accelerates the process of dying the fabrics as the energy in the molecules is increased.
Different heat temperatures are needed for different techniques, not all of them are the same.
Adsorption occurs when the dissolved dye or color is transferred from the solution to the fabric.
The adsorption process is determined by how soluble the dye was, in the solution used.
The dye then diffuses into the center of the fabric. This is governing step in the dyeing process. The absorption rate is generally faster than the diffusion rate. This is not a quick one time step. Equilibrium must be reached in order to have a perfectly colored print and also ensure durability. When using a dye bath technique, you can keep adding the dye solution until the desired color is achieved.
After you have achieved the right print or color desired on the fabric, the fabric has to be gently rinsed if required and left out to dry. When using the sublimation technique for dying, rinsing is usually not necessary.
You must maintain proper caution when handling these dyes. Do not inhale the dye dust as it can cause asthma like symptoms. People with respiratory problems should take extra caution.
Store it in a clearly labeled container, and make sure the solution does not get into contact with your eyes or skin for long periods of time.
People can use their hands for dyeing small amounts of fabric but there are machines made for industrial use which color large amounts of fabric. You can buy special stencils for patterns or hand-make your own print outs. A properly colored fabric is strongly bonded with the material thereby resisting friction and washing. Use the best quality of transfer paper to avoid “ghosting” which is an unwanted or blurred print on the fabric.
Also, the Graphic design can guide the perfect