Fibre Reactive Dyes (Procion MX)
Fibre reactive dyes are one of the most commonly used dyes for cellulose fibres (cotton, linen, viscose). They can also used on silk. These dyes are great for dip dyeing, screen printing, batik, mono printing and painting onto fabric. Unlike a pigment which just ‘binds’ to the surface of the fibre. Fibre reactive dyes create a permanent bond between the dye molecule and the fibre. The colours are fast under normal washing & light conditions.
Auxiliary chemicals used with Fibre Reactive Dyes
Salt
Common Salt (Sodium Chloride) helps the dye to have a greater affinity with the fibre than the water, encouraging the dye to migrate into the fibre.
Soda Ash
(Sodium Carbonate) is used as an alkali fixing agent.
Urea
Urea is an agent that attracts and retains water. Urea improves dye solubility and helps improve colour yield and stability.
Fibre Reactive Dye Recipes and Methods
Rapid Dyeing
This technique uses much less water and more concentrated dye solution. No salt is needed. It works out less economic than the recipe above, but is far quicker and simpler. This recipe will dye 100gms cotton.
1) Dissolve 1 level teaspoon dye in 100mls warm water.
2) Dissolve 1 level teaspoon Soda Ash is 50mls hot water.
3) Mix these solutions together and use as quickly as possible. (The mixture will lose its ability to react with the fibre over a period of 1-2 hours.)
4) Immerse the fabric in the dye and soda solutions and ensure dye penetrates throughout.
5) Squeeze out fabric to remove excess dye.
6) Loosely roll fabric and place in polythene bag or cling film for 2 hours.
7) After the 2 hours fixation time, unroll fabric and rinse thoroughly in cold water, to remove unfixed dye. Machine or hand wash in hot (60 degrees) water.
Dip Dyeing
This recipe will dye 100gms fabric a medium shade fairly evenly. It is quite laborious but will give you evenly distributed colour. If a more haphazard approach suits your style better you can ‘chuck’ all the ingredients in at the beginning and then add your prewetted fabric- the important thing is to move the fabric every so often to distribute the dye.
1) Pour 3 litres cold water into a plastic bucket.
2) Dissolve 2 level teaspoons dye in a little warm water.
3) Add the dissolved dye to the cold water, stir well and then enter the pre-wetted material and stir gently for 5 minutes.
4) Continue to stir the dye bath whilst sprinkling in 6 level tablespoons of salt over a 10 minute period.
5) Stir for a further 10 minutes which allows time for the dyed to be salted onto the fabric.
6) Dissolve 3 level tablespoons Soda Ash in warm water and add to dye bath. For even dyeing it is recommended that the fabric is removed while the Soda Ash is stirred in.
7) Leave fabric in dye bath for a further 35 minutes.
8) Remove the fabric and rinse thoroughly in cold water, then machine or hand wash in hot (60 degrees) water.
Printing & Painting with Procion MX dyes
The dyes are mixed with thin or thick ‘Chemical Water’
Chemical Water recipe
1 litre warm water
1 level teaspoon Calgon
10 level tablespoons Urea
Mix the above ingredients together. Don’t worry about making too much as they will store indefinitely.
Thin dye recipe (for painting, batik, etc)
250mls Chemical Water
2 level teaspoons Soda Ash
1 teaspoon Procion MX (less if paler shade required)
Mix the Procion MX dye in a little warm water, add Soda Ash and Chemical water, and stir until Soda Ash has dissolved.
Thickened Chemical Water recipe (for printing)
250ml Chemical Water
1 level tablespoon Manutex
Sprinkle Manutex over chemical water and whisk until smooth. Let it stand for at least 1 hour and preferably overnight. (It will become smoother) It will keep for approximately one month if stored in cool, dark place.
Thick Dye recipe
Mix 1 level teaspoon Procion MX powder in a little warm water, add Soda Ash and then mix into 250mls thickened Chemical Water.
Note: Once the dye and Soda Ash are added, the solution should be used within a day. (Or store in the fridge for further 3 days.)
After painting or printing with these concentrated dyes the fabric should be kept damp by covering with polythene for a minimum of two hours to allow dye to penetrate and chemical bond to take place. After keeping damp for two hours, simply wash off excess dye with copious amounts of cold water and then subject to a hot machine wash to remove any superficial dye.
SAFETY IN USE RECOMMENDATIONS
All persons handling the above products should take precautions to avoid accidental ingestion (swallowing),
inhaling of dust and skin and eye contact.
The Following recommendations should be observed:
- Wear rubber (or surgical type) gloves at all times.
- A full front covering apron or lab coat is recommended to protect against spillage.
- Safety spectacles with transparent sides will provide eye protection.
- Wherever possible avoid splashes and skin contact.
- If large quantities of powder dyes are to be dispersed or aerosol mists produced, it is recommended that a filter pad-type nose and mouth mask is worn to avoid inhaling any dust or mist generated.
© shirley scott - handprinted.co.uk Sept'05