Dyed Cotton Fabrics

Manufacturers offer different classes of Dyed Cotton Fabrics to colour different types of fabric. Following are fabrics along with recommendations for the most effective types of fabric dye:

• Cotton, linen, hemp, Modal, Tencel, bamboo, and rayon fabrics contain cellulose fibres from natural plant sources. These fabrics react well to basic dyes and fibre-reactive dyes that bond molecularly with the cellulose fibres.
• Wool, cashmere, silk, alpaca, and feathers contain natural protein fibres. These fabrics and materials react well to acid dyes.
• Polyester, acetate, spandex, and nylon are synthetic fabrics containing fibres that do not occur in nature. Look for fabric dyes that advertise special chemical formulations for colouring synthetic fabrics.

Properties of Dyed Cotton Fabrics:

The most commonly used processes for imparting colour to cotton are piece dyeing and yarn dyeing. In piece dyeing, which is used primarily for fabrics that are to be a solid colour, a continuous length of dry cloth is passed full-width through a trough of hot dye solution. In reactive dyeing, which is the most permanent of all dye types, are the most common type of dye used on cotton and other cellulose fibres. The dyed cotton fabrics are classified by their functional group such as dichlorotriazine or vinyl sulfone.

Types of Fabric Dyes:

Following dyed cotton fabrics are very effective for achieving permanent colouration:

Fibre-reactive Dyes: These are molecular bonds with the cellulose fibres that derive from plant sources. These fibres are found in fabrics like cotton, linen, hemp, Tencel, and rayon.

Acid Dyes: This works in acidic dye baths since they react with the protein fibres found in silk, wool, cashmere, feathers, and nylon.

Union Dyes: This offers uniform colouration for a blended fabric that contains two different types of fibres. In a single dye bath, two distinct classes of dye in the same colour are employed to achieve consistent coloration throughout a blended fabric.

Direct Dyes: This is a class of dye that dissolves in water to be taken up directly by the fibres. In most homes, this type is used.