A STUDY OF DIFFERENT CLASSES OF DYES

Abstract

The term dye is derived from old English word daeg or daeh meaning “colour”. The archeological evidences have showed that dyeing was a widespread industrial enterprise in Egypt, India, and Mesopotamia in third millennium B.C. The basic dye substance was the plant juice revealed to people initially from stains of fruits, flowers and roots, left on the hands while picking them. Ever since the beginning of humankind, people have been using colorants for painting and dyeing of their surroundings, their skins and their clothes. Until the middle of the 19th century, all colorants applied were from natural origin. For example: insects ( lac , cochineal and kermes) , fungi & lichens, Minerals like indigo for blue, gall black for black, orpiment for yellow. Ancient paintings discovered in caves in various parts of India provide ancient testimony of their application.