Indanthren® Blue E-BC, the new high-strength, ecological dye for electrochemical dyeing

Citation

(2003), "Indanthren® Blue E-BC, the new high-strength, ecological dye for electrochemical dyeing", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 32 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2003.12932fad.005

Indanthren® Blue E-BC, the new high-strength, ecological dye for electrochemical dyeing

Indanthren® Blue E-BC, the new high-strength, ecological dye for electrochemical dyeing

Keywords: Dyes, Electrochemistry

Indanthren Blue E-BC is the first vat dye developed by DyStar specifically for the electrochemical dyeing process. Because of its special finish, the yield of this dye is optimised for this dyeing process. Moreover, the dye liquor used in electrochemical dyeing with Indanthren Blue E-BC can be re-used for an unlimited number of times and contamination of dyehouse effluent is close to zero.

Indanthren Blue E-BC has the same high fastness properties as other Indanthren dyes and complies with all major ecological standards. Other Indanthren dyes for electrochemical dyeing are currently being developed.

The electrochemical dyeing process patented by DyStar was developed jointly with the Institute for Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics at the University of Innsbruck in Dornbirn, Austria, and the textile machinery manufacturer Thies GmbH and Co., Coesfeld, Germany. It can be used to apply Indanthren vat dyes, Indigo and Cassulfon^® sulphur dyes. The electrochemical dyeing process uses an electric current instead of chemical reducing agents, giving it a number of technical, economic and ecological benefits: shorter and more reliable dyeing cycles, improved reproducibility, lower wastewater costs and better quality products.

This revolutionary dyeing process is currently undergoing pilot trials in preparation for market launch and will be presented at this year's ITMA exhibition in Birmingham, UK.