2007-03-02 02:19:12 · 4 answers · asked by lou 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Modern chemical dyes don't usually need separate mordants.
Dylon cold dyes require a dye fix that they sell also. All Dylon dyes require table salt to make them work.
If you are using natural dyes there are various mordants you can use. The ancients used amonia from stale urine.
The purpose of a mordant is to prepare the cloth for dyeing. It helps the chemical reactions of the dye and makes the colours brighter and last longer.
Type dye into wikipedia, they should have it all there.
2007-03-02 02:32:24 · answer #1 · answered by SmartBlonde 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A mordant increases the strength of the (usually ionic rather than covalent) bond between the dye and the cloth, meaning that colour washes out less quickly. Mordants are primarily used for dyes derived from natural products
A lot of modern artificial dyes covalently bind to the molecules of the cloth fibres, therefore they don't need mordants.
2007-03-02 06:52:08 · answer #2 · answered by tjs282 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Common mordant was Sodium Aluminium Sulphate which was extracted from Alum shales using stale urine (ammonia) Modern dyes can be activated using salt which reduces their solubility allowing them to bind to cloth, notably amine end groups in nylon
2007-03-02 09:43:02 · answer #3 · answered by norm c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's to stop the dye from washing out.
2007-03-02 02:33:37 · answer #4 · answered by Pete WG 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋