The processes of cotton dyeing employed to-day may be comprised under eight heads, namely:—
(1) Direct dyeing. (2) Direct dyeing followed by fixation with metallic salts. (3) Direct dyeing followed by fixation with developers. (4) Direct dyeing followed by fixation with couplers. (5) Dyeing on tannic mordant. (6) Dyeing on metallic mordant. (7) Developing the colour direct on fibre. (8) Dyeing by impregnating the cotton with the dye-stuff, followed by oxidation or steaming.
It is of course not easy to elaborate a simple scheme of grouping the processes that shall definitely include all processes, but the above grouping will be found as successful as any, and each will be considered as fully as is deemed necessary.
(1) DIRECT DYEING.
Nothing in the history of cotton dyeing caused such a revolution in the methods of working as did the introduction some fifteen years ago of the forerunners (Congo red, Benzo purpurine, Chrysamine, Azo blue) of the now numerous group of direct dyes, followed as they were by the Benzo, Congo, Diamine, Titan, Chicago and Zambesi members of the group. Prior to their introduction cotton dyeing was always more or less complicated and mordanting methods had to be employed.
With the introduction of the direct dyes cotton dyeing has become even more simple than wool or silk dyeing, and now all that is necessary is to prepare a dye liquor containing the necessary amount of dye-stuff and Glauber's salt, or common salt or soda, or some similar body, or a combination thereof. The method of working is to place the cotton in a lukewarm or even in a hot bath, raise to the boil, allow the goods to remain in the boiling bath for half an hour to an hour, then take them out, wring, wash and dry. This method is simple and will answer for all the dyes of this group. There are some that do not require the working to be done boiling; it is simply needful to enter the cotton into a boiling bath and work without steam until the bath has cooled down. Furious boiling is not needed—a gentle simmer gives the best results. Uneven dyeing seems to be an impossibility in this group of dyes, unless the cotton is dirty; no matter how the operations are carried on, level dyeing is the rule not the exception. An enormous variety of shades and tints can be obtained from these dyes, and they can be combined together in every conceivable manner and proportions.
No satisfactory explanation has yet been given as to what feature in the chemical composition of these dye-stuffs give them such an affinity for the cotton fibre as to enable
them to dye in so simple a manner such fast shades as they do; it is a fact there is such an affinity and there the matter must rest.
It has been found in practice that the efficiency of the dyeing operation depends, primarily of course, on the particular dye-stuff used, but also upon other factors, that a certain assistant be used. Some dyes work on the cotton better from a bath containing Glauber's salt, while with others common salt works best, while a little soda along with the salt facilitates the dyeing in some cases. It is practically impossible to specify here the best assistant for all the direct colours, on account of the great number of such dyes which are known, but in the practical recipes given below much useful advice will be found. Then the quantity of such assistants used is of much importance; there is one proportion at which the best results are obtained for each dye. The dyer should find out for himself by experiment and the use of the dyes he employs in his work what assistant and how much is best, and make his baths up to that strength. With some dyes 10 per cent. of the assistant will be found sufficient, while with others, 25 to 30 per cent. will not be too much. The percentage refers to the weight of the cotton that is taken.