Friday, April 11, 2014

Take a look at the extensive usage of solvent dyes

Dyes that are soluble in organic solvents are known as solvent dyes. They are mostly used as solutions in organic solvents. These dyes are used for coloring solvents, waxes, hydrocarbon fuels, lubricants, plastic items, and hydrocarbon based materials. The molecules in fuel dyes are mostly slightly polar or non-polar and don’t undergo the ionization process. Its molecules are not soluble in water.

The fact that these dyes are soluble in non-polar materials makes them quite versatile for its usage. Oil dyes are used for applications like foil printing, marking pens, printing inks, candles, waxes, polishes, wood stains, varnishes, shellacs, leathers, ball point pens, acrylic resins, etc.

Chemical activities of these coloring agents are important because they can easily dissolve in non-polar chemicals such as fuels, and oils. 
They are also used in pyrotechnics industry as well as signaling smoke. Another common utility is that of coloring lubricants, in cutting and automotive industries. The most common application of solvent dyes is in the plastic industry, which relies heavily on this coloring agent.

In this arena, manufacturers make use of solvent based dyes for coloring a plethora of solid products such as nylon, acrylics, polyester, polystyrene, styrene monomers, PVC, acetates, etc. In addition to that, several solvent based dyes contribute to biological stain manufacturing community for making stains that identify cells structure in scientific research and medical diagnostics.

Furthermore, they also contribute in giving certain products a transparent metallic effect. A good example would be gold imitation that we generally see in metalized polyester film. Other than that, glass coloration is another area where these dyes give their contribution. While other coloring agents easily ionize, these dyes don’t. Ionization is the ability of a compound to change polarity through losing or gaining electrons from other compounds. That is the reason they are not soluble in water which is highly polar.

The naming convention for these coloring agents uses color index followed by classification system. The system is the name of the solvent, followed by color, and number. Different types are given different names.

A few of the most popular ones are: Red 24, Yellow 124, Blue 35, Red 164, etc. The naming convention is strictly based on the color. It is not based on the chemicals used in different compounds.

Anthraquinone is the name that has been given to, blue and green dyes.

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