Main Features of Cationic Dyes:

Basic or Cationic dyes are the class of dyes, that are most commonly synthetic, that act as
bases and when made soluble in water, they form a colored cationic salt, which can react with
the anionic sites on the surface of the substrate. The cationic dyes produce bright shades with
high tinctorial values, on textile materials. Cationic Dyes are cationic soluble salts of coloured
bases. Cationic dyes are applied to substrate with anionic character where electrostatic
attractions are formed. Basic dyes are called cationic dyes because the chromophore in basic
dye molecules contains a positive charge. The cationic dyes react on the basic side of the
isoelectric points. Cationic dyes are salts, usually chlorides, in which the dyestuff is the basic
or positive radical. Cationic dyes are powerful colouring agents. Basic or cationic dyes display
cationic functional groups like -NR3+ or =NR2+. Since basic dye is a stain that is cationic or
positively charged and it is the reason that it reacts well with material that is anionic or
negatively charged. Cationic dyes are less expensive dyes than other dyes like Disperse
dyes. Cationic dyes have outstanding brilliance of shades.

 Ionic Nature:
The ionic nature of these dyes is cationic.

 Shade Range:
These dyes exhibit an unlimited shade range with high tinctorial strength, brightness and
many colors are having fluorescent properties.

 Solubility:
The solubility of these dyes is very good in water, in the presence of glacial acetic acid.

 Levelling Properties:
These dyes have a very high strike rate, therefore leveling is poor.

 Exhaustion:
Cationic dyes exhaust at a variable rates, K values are used to define the exhaustion
characteristics of the cationic dyes. K=1 means the fastest exhaustion, while K=5 means the
slowest exhaustion. So while making the combination shades the dyes of similar K values
must be used.

 Affinity:
These dyes shows a very affinity towards wool, silk and cationic dye able acrylic, but have no
affinity towards cellulosics. To dye cellulosics with cationic dyes the material must be treated
with suitable mordanting agents.

Key Features over Conventional Cationic Dyes:

•Excellent substantivity
•Better Light fastness
•Covers all fibres
•Clear backwaters
Other Features of Cationic Dyes Which Includes Advantages and
Limitation of Cationic Dyes:

 Advantages of Cationic Dyes:

•High Tinctorial strength
•Moderate substantivity
•Relatively economical
•Includes some of the most brilliant synthetic dyes
•Shows good brightness

 Limitations of Cationic dyes:

•Poor shade stability
•High acid content
•Coloured backwaters
•Preferential dyeing
Modified Basic dyes

These dyes, generally based on the chemistry of basic dyes, have longer molecular
structures than traditional basic dyes, and thus have significantly improved properties.
Though still cationic in nature, modified basic dyes exhibit improved fibre coverage and
substantivity on many furnishes, making them ideal for dyeing applications.
Fastness Properties of Cationic Dyes:
The light fastness is poor to moderate, but wet fastness is good. Light fastness is also
improved considerably over traditional basic dye. The following table shows different colour
fastness properties of cationic dyes.

Colour Fastness Properties of Cationic Dyes

Washing Light Dry cleaning Perspiration Rubbing
Good Moderate to Good Good Good
Poor

Uses of Cationic Dyes:

 These dyes are used for dyeing of wool, silk, cotton and modified acrylic fibres.
Usually acetic acid is added to the dyebath to help the take up of the dye onto the
fibre. Cationic dyes are also used in the coloration of paper.

 Basic dyes have an extensive use for dyeing of cut flowers, dried flowers, dyeing of
jute, coir etc. But perhaps now the optimum use lies in the dyeing of acrylic fibre. For
dyeing this range, a new range of 'modified' basic dyes were developed. It became
perfectly suitable for dyeing of this material. If the reason behind the success of Basic
dyes is analysed, it would be seen that the positively charged cations of the Basic
dyes gets attracted towards the negatively charged anions in the acrylic fibre. Acylic
polymers have anionic groups attached to it. They are most commonly the sulphonate
group, -SO3-, followed closed by the carboxylate group, -CO2-. This reaction of the
cation and anion results in salt linkages. Basic dye do not show absolutely any
migration in acrylic fibers under normal dyeing conditions. Other popular applications
include dyeing leather. They are preferred in leather dyeing as they can get combined
easily with vegetable-tanned leather thus doing away with mordant. Basic dyes also
find its use in colouration of papers. Also used for dyeing silk & silk flowers in very
brilliant colours. Cationic dyes are not used on cotton as the structures are neither
planar nor large enough for sufficient substantivity or affinity.

 Cationic Dyes are mostly used for dyeing of Garments, Knitted and Woven fabrics.