An overview of the use of synthetic dyes in dyeing silk fibers

Abstract Silk is a natural protein fiber produced from Silkworm. Silk fibers have special properties including brightness, high mechanical properties and biocompatibility. In this study, the silk coloration using a range of synthetic textile dyes including acidic, metal-complex, reactive and basic was studied and  the pros and cons of  each class of dyes on silk fibers were discussed. These classes of textile dyes have all considerable affinity towards silk fibers. However, basic, acidic and reactive dyes have the highest brightness, and metal complex and reactive dyes have the highest washing and optical fastness. The lowest fastness properties were obtained when silk fibers were dyed with basic and acidic dyes except for the dyes based on anthraquinone derivatives. Silk fibers are normally dyed with  acidic, metal complex or basic dyes in weak acidic media while they are preferably dyed with  reactive dyes under slightly alkaline conditions.