Textiles and leather chemicals and ingredients

Dye selection follows the fibre. Reactive, direct, vat and sulfur dyes colour cotton and other cellulosic fibres, disperse dyes colour polyester, acid dyes colour wool, silk and nylon, and basic dyes colour acrylics. Auxiliaries such as levelling agents, sequestrants and fixing agents help dyes go on evenly and stay put. Leather makers mostly use chrome tanning salts, with vegetable and synthetic tannins, aldehydes and chrome-free systems growing in importance.

Chemical compliance is a major topic. Many brands require that suppliers follow a manufacturing restricted substances list such as the ZDHC MRSL and test products against restricted substance lists for azo amines, formaldehyde, alkylphenol ethoxylates, chlorinated paraffins, PFAS and heavy metals. Effluent rules in producing countries also affect which chemicals mills can use. When you post a request, give the Colour Index name or chemistry, the fibre or leather type, the process and the compliance certificates you need. Suppliers can then propose matching products and send lab samples for shade and fastness testing on your own substrate.