Pigment Dyeing Process

Pigment dyeing is a comparatively recent addition. In the process of pigment dyeing no actual chemical reaction takes place between the dye and the fabric. Instead, what happens is that the pigments gets seated on the fabric with the help of binders. There is a challenge in pigment dyeing. Pigments are not soluble in water and shows no affinity for fiber. So, conventional dyestuff-based dyeing conditions are not feasible for pigment dyeing. To come to terms with such limitations, a new kind of pigments have been formulated for use in fibers. These are maintained in a stable dispersion in the medium of water by anionic surfactants. This type of pigment is known as pigment resin color (PRC), primarily used in printing. Some of the popular pigments used in fabrics are given here.

Yellow colour: Acetoacetic acid anilide pigments

Red: Azoic pigments

Blue or green: Phthalocyanine pigments

Difference between a dye and Pigment in context fiber dyeing is explained in the following section.