MadSci Network: Chemistry
Query:

Re: Why does tie-dye fade out on cotton fabrics after many washes?

Date: Mon May 23 07:28:19 2005
Posted By: Chris Cerrato, Staff, Compounding Dept., C. L. Hauthaway & Sons
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 1116592852.Ch
Message:

From the information you've given, it does appear to be working, just not as well as you would like. What happens when you dye a textile is that you are causing tiny particles of color to chemically bond to the fabric. If you are using RIT dyes, for example, they list several methods for dying, and tell you that the best one is the stovetop method. This is because the heat energy that you are putting in using this method helps to drive the chemical reaction that makes the dye bond to the fabric.

Basically, the hotter you can make the dye bath, the longer the dye will last; and the longer you can leave something in the dye bath, the longer the dye will last. Both time and temperature will help. Sometimes adding a little salt to the dyebath (plain old table salt, like you were cooking macaroni) helps, too.

Good luck!

Moderator's Note: The table salt (or other kinds of salts/oxides) acts as a mordant to help fix the dye in the fabric.


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