Dispersing Agent [All You Need To Know]

Dispersant or dispersing agent makes the dispersion process more stable and easier of solid material dispersed in liquid. Dispersing agent has effect on rate of dyeing. It increases the solubility of disperse dye as well as increases the dyeing rate up to a certain time. But after that certain value, the rate of dyeing decreases with the addition of disperse dye.

Dispersing agents are stable under dyeing conditions. They are significantly resistant to hard water, high temperature even at the other dyeing auxiliaries.

They help to maintain the dye molecule dispersion in dye bath. Disperse dyes remain at aggregated form which is not suitable for the application on hydrophobic fibers.

If they remain at aggregated form, they will produce uneven and specky shades. So dispersing agent is required to produce stable formulation and to ensure storage stability (No viscosity instability, no separation). It helps to distribute the solid dye particles in liquid solution.

Functions of dispersing agent

• It helps to reduce the particle size of dye
• Enables the formation of dye powder form
• For carrying out dyeing, it helps in the re-conversion process of dye powder into a dispersion
• Maintains the dispersion of dye in fine form during the whole dyeing process
• Having no wetting, foaming or detergent properties
• Increases the solubility of Disperse dye
• It has impact on the rate of dyeing
• Shows compatibility with anionic and non-ionic products

Disperse dye dispersion with dispersing agent

Disperse dyes are available as powders, grains, pastes or aqueous dispersions. Dyes contain micro-fine dye particles even with a diameter below 1 µm. These causes the variation in the amount of dispersing agent.

• Dispersing agent coat the surface of each dye particle with a monomolecular layer of adsorbed dispersant.
  Since these chemicals are invariably anionic polymers, the more hydrophobic sections of the polymer chain adsorb onto the hydrophobic dye particle surface with the anionic groups of the polymer exposed to the surrounding water.
  The overall negative charge on the surface of each particle prevents their coalescence and aggregation.
• The original dispersant was sulphated ricinoleic acid. Modern dispersants are often either lignosulphonates from paper pulping, sulphonates of alkylnaphthaleneformaldehyde condensates or sodium oleyl-p-anisidide sulphonate.
• The presence of a dispersing agent in the dye bath increases the apparent water solubility of the dye.
• The rate of solution of the dye does not control the overall rate of dyeing as the dyes consist of very small particles to give the maximum specific surface area.
  The average particle size will gradually increase during dyeing as the smaller particles dissolve more rapidly. The very fine state of division avoids dye specks on the goods.
• Dispersions may not always be stable under the dyeing conditions. It may occur in the Jet and Package machine which involving high temperatures and high shear forces.
  The dye bath usually contains additional dispersant to maintain the dispersion of the dye and to promote levelling. This is more important for pale shades when the amount of dispersant added from the dye powder or liquid is low.

                                                                  Fig: Dispersing Agent

Image Source: Basic Principle of Textile Coloration

Effect of dispersing agent on rate of dyeing

Image Source: Chemistry of Dyes

• Ii is seen from the above figure that the dyeing rate increases with increasing solubility up to a certain value and with further increase in solubility, the dyeing rate actually decreases. Where the solubility is very high as in the case of direct dyes, practically no dyeing takes place.
• If the dye has fairly low solubility, say OA, the addition of a dispersing agent raises the solubility to OB so that the dyeing rate increases from AP to BQ.
• If the dye has fairly high solubility (OB), the addition of the dispersing agent may increase it further, say to OD. In this case, the dyeing rate is actually decreased from BQ to DS.

Trade names of dispersing agent

Name of product	Name of Company
Dispersant WS	Indokem Ltd.
Polydisperse WS	3-Silicon and Chemicals Pvt. Ltd.
Dispersing agent NS	Ultra Color Corporation
Luckokem AK	Keumicolor Industries
Dispervat 60	Sri Ambja Chemicals
Setamol WS	BASF India
Dadamol V	Dyes and Dispersing agent Pvt. Ltd.
Pidimol TD	Parekg Dyechem industries Pvt. Ltd.
Sarcol NS	Gujchem Distillers India Ltd.
Lycol  OL	Sandoz (India)
Eldon	Sandoz
Nitamol NV-50	New India Trading Corporation

Examples of dispersing agents

• Soap powder
• Lignin sulphonates
• Turkey red oil
• Formaldehyde
• Alkyl acryl sulphonates

To Wrap Up!

Dispersing agent plays an important role in dyeing of polyester with disperse dye. It helps in dyeing by increasing the solubility of disperse dye along with an increase in the dyeing rate up to a certain time.

If you are interested in knowing disperse dye, then check it out: Disperse dye definition [An Overview]