| HS Code | 848657 |
| Product Name | Papermaking Dye BASF |
| Appearance | Liquid or powder depending on grade |
| Solubility In Water | Fully soluble in water with agitation |
| Ionic Nature | Anionic |
| Dye Class | Substantive/direct dye for paper |
| Optimum Ph Range | 6.0 to 8.0 |
| Lightfastness | Moderate for paper dye grades |
| Heat Stability | Stable under typical paper drying conditions |
| Compatibility | Compatible with common papermaking additives |
| Dyeing Mechanism | Adsorbs onto pulp fibers through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces |
| Storage Temperature | Store at 5 to 30 °C in a sealed container |
| Shelf Life | Minimum 12 months from date of manufacture |
As an accredited Papermaking Dye BASF factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Available in 25 kg drums, this BASF papermaking dye delivers vibrant, consistent color for efficient paper production. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Load 20′ FCL with Papermaking Dye BASF in sealed drums, palletized, evenly distributed, and securely braced to prevent shifting. |
| Shipping | Ship papermaking dye BASF in sealed, corrosion-resistant containers with leak-proof lids. Label clearly with chemical name, hazards, and handling precautions. Include Safety Data Sheets and shipping documents. Comply with international dangerous goods regulations if classified. Avoid moisture, extreme temperatures, and direct sunlight during transit to preserve product integrity. |
| Storage | Store Papermaking Dye BASF in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, and ignition sources. Keep containers tightly sealed when not in use. Avoid contact with acids, alkalis, and oxidizing agents. Ensure secondary containment to prevent spills and comply with local safety regulations. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 12 months from manufacture when stored sealed in a cool, dry place. |
On crescent-former tissue lines converting bleached hardwood kraft and eucalyptus furnish into dry-creped napkin bases, the BASF anionic direct dye preparation is introduced into the machine chest rather than the pulper because alkaline peroxide brightening of recycled broke in the pulper exposes the dye to oxidation conditions that increase shade drift before stock dilution. Pastel facial tissue shades consume 0.05–0.35% dye on oven-dry fiber, while deep two-ply kitchen towel shades require 0.60–1.10%; addition beyond 1.10% on this furnish produces diminishing tinctorial yield and higher headbox foam. The colored tissue intended for napkin conversion is assessed for dye bleeding under EN 646; where the converter declares food-contact use, the finished article falls under EC 1935/2004, EU 2023/2006, and FDA 21 CFR 176.170, with purity requirements drawn from BfR Recommendation XXXVI for paper and board. Fixation of the anionic dye on cellulosic fines is controlled by injecting cationic starch or polyDADMAC on the suction side of the fan pump at 0.02–0.05% on dry fiber; a streaming current detector is used to hold thin-stock charge demand within a mill-specific band, and field records on tissue production lines show that a negative drift greater than 50 μeq/L after broke addition lowers dye retention and shifts shade by ΔE*ab 0.7–1.3 in standard handsheets. Thin-stock pH is held at 6.0–7.2 and temperature at 35–50°C to avoid premature hydrolysis of polyamidoamine-epichlorohydrin wet-strength resin; the furnish is then formed on a crescent former at 1,600–2,200 m/min, creped at 3.5–5.0% moisture, and converted into flat napkins, folded lunch napkins, two-ply kitchen towels, and single-ply colored bath tissue.
At basis weights below 80 g/m², the film split pattern generated by a metering size press becomes the dominant source of shade variation when a liquid direct dye is blended into cationic or amphoteric starch. The dye dose is set at 0.01–0.08% of finished sheet mass for A4 copy and inkjet preprint bases, with the size press bath maintained at 55–65°C and starch solids at 8–12%. Viscosity is measured on a Brookfield LV spindle at 100 rpm and held at 20–35 mPa·s; above 50 mPa·s at 55°C, the metered film no longer separates cleanly from the rod, producing visible shade mottling and a measured ΔE*ab > 1.5 across a 1,000-m reel. The dyed size press starch must be consumed within 60 min of mixing; longer residence in a heated circulation tank leads to starch retrogradation and dye aggregation at the rod tip, which appears as longitudinal streak lines on the finished sheet. Optical performance is quantified under ISO 5631-2 with D65/10° geometry, and shade drift is compared to ISO 11475 CIE whiteness limits; a shift from the agreed standard of ΔE*ab ≥ 2.0 triggers a batch correction with a secondary dye tank metered into the suction side of the size press circulation loop.
| Parameter | Wet-end stock dyeing | Metering size press dyeing |
|---|---|---|
| Dye addition | 0.05–1.20% on oven-dry fiber | 0.01–0.08% on finished sheet mass |
| Application matrix | Thin stock at 0.6–1.2% consistency | Cooked starch at 8–12% solids, 55–65°C |
| Fixation/retention mechanism | Charge neutralization with cationic starch or polyDADMAC | Film dehydration and starch film matrix after rod metering |
| Dominant shade variability | Broke ratio and anionic trash charge demand | Starch viscosity and rod/film split dynamics |
Terminal products include A4 copy paper at 75–120 g/m², inkjet preprint base for transactional billing forms, continuous form stationery, and colored ledger paper; the same size-press dye route is not recommended when the base sheet later receives a cationic inkjet receptive coating, because anionic dye migration into the coating under wet-end rewetting can shift print-side hue.
Within the bleached top ply of multi-ply folding boxboard produced on fourdrinier board machines, the BASF papermaking dye is added to the top-ply mixing chest at 0.02–0.50% on oven-dry top-ply fiber to generate pharmaceutical carton tints that must remain visually stable through subsequent extrusion coating and calendering. The top-ply furnish is refined to 35–45°SR and dyed at pH 4.8–6.5; alum dosage is clamped at 0.5–1.5% on dry fiber because higher alum levels reduce dye brightness and shift the top-ply shade toward yellow. The colored top ply is formed at 0.6–1.0% headbox consistency on a 25–50 g/m² top-ply layer, joined to an unbleached or white-lined backing, and dewatered at board machine speeds of 600–1,200 m/min. If the board is intended for primary food packaging, the dyed top ply is tested for color bleeding under EN 646 and the complete article is controlled under FDA 21 CFR 176.170, BfR Recommendation XXXVI, and EC 1935/2004; converters commonly request a bleeding grade of 4 or better. Subsequent blade coating with aqueous pigment coating at 8–14 g/m² dry weight introduces a second shade risk: coating color pH above 9.0 extracts anionic direct dye from the top ply into the wet coating layer, causing printed-carton color drift after infrared drying. Coating color pH is therefore buffered at 8.0–8.5 and the coated board is dried with air impingement at 120–160°C for 15–25 s. Terminal products include pharmaceutical folding box blanks, cosmetic cartons, confectionery trays, and dry-food carton stock.
Decorative base paper intended for high-pressure laminate surfaces is run as a low-grammage specialty sheet on paper machines equipped with a size press, and the BASF papermaking dye is added in the wet end at 0.10–1.00% on oven-dry fiber depending on the target décor. The base paper, usually 70–120 g/m², is subsequently printed and impregnated with a melamine-formaldehyde resin solution to a resin pickup of 60–80%; the impregnated sheet is dried at 120–160°C and later cured at 170–200°C under 7–10 MPa specific pressure in a multi-opening or short-cycle press. This thermal load imposes the main dye-selection constraint: a direct dye that is stable at papermaking temperatures may shift by ΔE*ab 0.8–2.0 when exposed to the 160°C resin cure, so accelerated cure tests are run on the dyed base paper before commercial lot release. Lightfastness is measured under ISO 105-B02 with a xenon arc source; indoor horizontal décor requires at least grade 6, while flooring-grade overhead and worktop laminate specifications routinely require grade 7 or better. A pigment dispersion combined with the direct dye at 0.05–0.30% is used when post-cure shade drift must remain below ΔE*ab 0.5, because the pigment component does not participate in the thermosetting resin condensation reaction. The dyed laminate is assessed under EN 438-2 for lightfastness, surface resistance, and cured-surface color stability. Terminal products include furniture high-pressure laminates, kitchen worktop sheets, compact laminate panels, and edging strips. The direct dye route is not specified for exterior-grade compact laminate exposed to direct weather; published data for this specific configuration is limited, and a pigment-predominant system is used where ISO 105-B02 grade 8 is required.
Because moulded fibre tableware enters direct food contact with fatty and aqueous products, the allowable dye chemistry is narrower than in non-food tissue, and bleed limits under EN 646 exclude several bright direct dye types acceptable in bathroom tissue. A food-approved BASF papermaking dye is added in the pulper at 0.10–0.60% on oven-dry fiber to bagasse or eucalyptus furnish, the slurry is vacuum-formed on 40–80 mesh dewatering moulds, and the wet preform is hot-pressed at 150–190°C for 20–60 s to cure internal sizing and fix the dye in the densified wall. Compliance for the finished plate, bowl, or clamshell relies on FDA 21 CFR 176.170, BfR Recommendation XXXVI, and EC 1935/2004, with retention of the dye through the hot-press stage checked by comparing water extract absorbance before and after forming; if the pressed article releases color under EN 646 conditions, the addition ratio is reduced or a less mobile dye type is substituted.
For saturated e-commerce mailer testliner made from a virgin kraft top ply over an OCC base, the BASF anionic direct dye is dosed at 0.30–1.20% on oven-dry top-ply fiber; deep black and navy shades at the high end of this range require lower alum and a cationic dye fixative to prevent dye bleed during converter flexographic printing with water-based inks. The stock pH is controlled at 4.2–5.5 because rosin-alum sizing on kraft top ply precipitates at higher pH and reduces both water resistance and dye fixation; recorded mill data show that a pH upward excursion from 5.0 to 5.8 in the machine chest can increase dye solubility enough to lower retention by 10–18% and shift shade by ΔE*ab 1.0–1.8 on the finished reel. The dyed testliner is produced on a conventional fourdrinier or gap former at 800–1,300 m/min, dried to 6–8% moisture, and reeled without a pigment coating layer; if the reel is converted into primary food-contact corrugated board, the finished article is reclassified under FDA 21 CFR 176.170 and EN 646, but for non-food e-commerce mailers there is no statutory colorfastness test and the supplier specification is typically an internal bleed test using deionized water at 40°C for 24 h. Terminal products include colored corrugated testliner, retail carrier bags, e-commerce mailers, and protective packaging sleeves.
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The Papermaking Dye BASF range comprises aqueous liquid cationic dyes, anionic direct dyes, and pigment preparations sold under the Basazol C, Fastusol, and Pigmosol identifiers. The liquid delivery format is matched to continuous metering into stock preparation, headbox approach piping, or surface size press circuits. Product selection is determined by ionic charge, wet-end retention mechanism, lightfastness, bleedfastness, and final food-contact status. The chemical classes differ fundamentally: Basazol C cationic dyes fix electrostatically to anionic cellulosic fibres without alum; Fastusol direct dyes are anionic and require cationic retention aids or fixatives; Pigmosol pigment preparations are particulate dispersions that remain on the surface unless binder is present. Compared with commodity powder dyes, the liquid product format removes dust exposure, allows closed-loop colour management via in-line spectrophotometry, and reduces cross-contamination in automated colour kitchens. The range is used in fine paper, tissue, packaging board, decorative laminates, and base paper for surface coating.
Commodity direct dyes are frequently supplied as powders with extended storage histories, variable salt content, and relative colour strength deviations up to ±6%. In wet-end application, the salt fraction raises conductivity and destabilizes cationic retention systems. BASF liquid grades are manufactured to a relative colour strength tolerance of ±3% when tested according to ISO 787-24, and the liquid is filtered through 25 µm screens to remove insoluble aggregates. The cationic Basazol C series has a positive zeta potential at pH 4.0–7.0, which reduces the need for alum and improves bleedfastness in sized paper furnishes. Fastusol dyes are anionic direct liquids with selected chromophores for lightfastness, but retention in recycled furnishes drops unless a cationic fixative is present. Pigmosol preparations are not molecular dyes; their median particle size is below 1.0 µm, which gives different lightfastness and bleedfastness behaviour than true dyestuffs.
The low salt burden is measurable as conductivity. A 1% aqueous dilution of Basazol C measured by ISO 7888 typically contributes less than 0.5 mS/cm to the wet-end, whereas commodity powder direct dyes at equal colour strength can exceed 2.0 mS/cm. This difference shifts the charge demand of the whitewater and changes the retention aid requirement.
Physical property data for the three principal BASF classes are summarized in Table 1. Values are representative of commercial liquid grades and may vary by shade and product grade. Viscosity is determined according to ISO 3219:2013.
| Property | Basazol C liquid cationic dyes | Fastusol liquid direct dyes | Pigmosol pigment preparations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ionic character | cationic | anionic direct | nonionic/anionic dispersion |
| Typical viscosity at 23°C | 20–150 mPa·s | 50–250 mPa·s | 100–800 mPa·s |
| pH range | 2.5–4.5 | 7.0–9.5 | 6.5–9.5 |
| Relative colour strength tolerance | ±3% | ±3% | ±5% |
| Primary retention mechanism | electrostatic attraction to anionic fibre | fixative or retention aid required | mechanical entrapment plus binder |
Liquid cationic Basazol C grades are acidic and must not be blended directly with anionic direct dyes or anionic retention aids in undiluted form. Precipitation occurs when the mixed stream pH exceeds 5.0 and conductivity remains above 2.0 mS/cm. Storage at 5–35°C is required; freezing below 0°C may produce phase separation that is not reversible by agitation. Dilution should be performed with soft water at a ratio below 1:10 immediately before the addition point. Water hardness above 150 mg/L as CaCO3 reduces colour strength and may deposit on metering equipment. These constraints are derived from production-scale use where hard-water dilution and anionic additive contact produced metering line blockage and shade drift.
Basazol C liquid dyes are typically dosed at the suction side of the fan pump, after the retention aid and before the machine screen. This point provides 15–45 seconds of approach-flow residence time and subjects the dye to high-shear dispersion. When the furnish contains coated broke or oxidized recycled fibre, the cationic demand can exceed 1.5 mEq/L and retention falls because dissolved anionic trash consumes the cationic chromophore. In such furnishes, a cationic polymer or polyaluminium chloride is applied at 0.5–2.0 kg/t before dye injection to reduce anionic interference. On fine paper machines running at headbox consistencies of 0.7–1.0%, the dye flow is adjusted by closed-loop spectrophotometry, but the gain is limited to ±5% per minute to prevent overshoot. Production experience indicates that shade variation across a reel is often caused by broke ratio changes rather than dye metering instability.
For tissue and towel grades, dye is injected into the thick stock before the fan pump or directly into the fan pump suction. The shorter residence time and high fines content require lower dosage, typically 0.005–0.15% liquid dye on bone-dry fibre. In recycled tissue furnishes, Basazol C cationic dyes provide higher bleedfastness but lower lightfastness than Fastusol dyes. Fastusol dyes are preferred for decorative laminates and napkins where lightfastness ratings of 4–5 under ISO 105-B02:2014 are needed in pastel shades. A cationic fixative at 0.5–1.0% on dry fibre binds the anionic direct dye and reduces press felt staining.
Surface treatment changes the colour distribution profile. At the size press, anionic direct dyes or Pigmosol pigment preparations are mixed with oxidized starch or polyvinyl alcohol and applied at a wet pickup of 35–60 g/m². The colour develops in the dried film, which can produce two-sidedness if the metering roll load is not balanced. Production-scale film presses with rod loading of 0.8–1.5 N/mm deliver more uniform colour than pond size presses because the hydrodynamic shear reduces dye migration during drying. Cationic dyes are normally excluded from starch-based surface formulations because starch cationicity is insufficient to prevent bleed into the sheet.
Pigmosol pigment preparations require binder addition at 5–15 parts per 100 parts of starch solids; without binder, crockfastness under ISO 105-X12:2016 falls below rating 3. Surface-applied pigment preparations provide higher lightfastness but are limited by mottling when penetration depth exceeds 20 µm. For deep shades, a two-stage approach is used: a wet-end cationic dye anchors the base shade, and a size-press direct dye or pigment preparation adjusts the final shade. This combination reduces the wet-end load and shortens grade change time.
Basazol C liquid cationic dyes are supplied as aqueous solutions with active dye content of 20–40% by weight. Viscosity at 23°C ranges from 20 mPa·s to 150 mPa·s, which permits use with diaphragm metering pumps or eccentric screw pumps equipped with pulsation dampeners. Metering accuracy of ±1% of setpoint is achievable only when the pump suction line is flooded and the product temperature is maintained at 15–30°C. At temperatures below 10°C, viscosity increases and the metering flow deviates at low stroke rates. The dyes are compatible with cationic starch, cationic polyacrylamide, and polyaluminium chloride at the addition point but must not be premixed with anionic retention aids or anionic direct dyes. Undiluted product has a density of 1.05–1.20 g/cm³ and a volatile organic content below 1.0% by weight, which supports use in closed-loop metering without elevated explosion risk.
Production-scale colour kitchens use in-line dilution and spectrophotometric trim control. The dye delivery system is configured with a mass flow meter on the stock flow and a ratio controller on the dye pump. When grade change occurs, the stock colour is transferred to a new target within 8–15 minutes if the addition point is the fan pump; machine chest addition extends the transition to 30–60 minutes. This lag time is the main operational difference between BASF liquid dyes and dry powder dyes, which must first be dispersed and are subject to batch-to-batch mixing errors.
When viewed under D65 daylight and A incandescent light, metamerism is controlled by chromophore composition. Basazol C cationic dyes and Fastusol direct dyes with different Colour Index designations exhibit metameric indices below 1.0 ΔE when the shade is matched using the same class. Mixing pigment preparations with dyes can increase metamerism because the absorption spectra differ from molecular dyes. Colour kitchens therefore maintain separate calibration libraries for wet-end dyes and surface pigments, and the spectrophotometer light source is specified as D65/10°.
Regulatory conformance data for BASF papermaking dyes are organized in Table 2. Dyes intended for food-contact paper and board are assessed under 21 CFR 176.170; pigments and direct dyes used in packaging must also comply with the specific migration limits of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 when the coloured sheet is placed in contact with food. The BASF liquid dye range is registered under REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 for the relevant tonnage band. Halogenated compounds are absent from the liquid dye formulations; this is documented in the supplier declaration.
| Compliance parameter | Standard or regulation | Relevant scope |
|---|---|---|
| Relative colour strength | ISO 787-24 | spectrophotometric comparison with reference standard |
| Lightfastness | ISO 105-B02:2014 | xenon arc exposure method 3 |
| Crockfastness | ISO 105-X12:2016 | dry and wet rubbing |
| Viscosity | ISO 3219:2013 | rotational viscometry |
| Food-contact paper | 21 CFR 176.170 | components of paper and paperboard |
| REACH registration | Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 | substance registration and safety data |
In wet-strength packaging grades, the combination of cationic wet-strength resin and anionic direct dye can produce precipitation if the dye is added before the resin has been uniformly adsorbed. The recommended sequence is wet-strength resin addition to thick stock, followed by cationic dye or anionic dye with fixative, then retention aid dilution before the fan pump. When this sequence is reversed, visible specks form at the headbox and the sheet loses bleedfastness under water contact. Cationic Basazol C dyes reduce this failure mode because they do not require anionic fixatives. The processing window for stock pH is between 4.5 and 7.5; outside this range, cationic dye fixation drops and whitewater colour increases.
Operational boundaries are defined by chemical incompatibility rather than thermal stability. The liquid dyes retain physical stability at 5–35°C, but storage below 0°C may cause irreversible separation. Hard water above 150 mg/L as CaCO3 should be treated before dilution because calcium ions precipitate anionic direct dyes and reduce colour strength. Avoid combining the liquid dye with amine-based additives in the same feed line; amine-containing wet-strength agents can raise pH above 8.0 and destabilize the cationic dye chromophore. Published data for continuous high-speed application above 1800 m/min is limited; validation trials are required for machines operating beyond that speed.
