Archroma to introduce new 'indigo clone' solution

The new product will be the core of Archroma’s Indigo Reflection, a colouration system that behaves like indigo, with an even more sustainable and efficient application process compared to indigo, said Archroma in a media statement. With this new innovation, Archroma completes its spectrum of eco-advanced denim colouration solutions. The new indigo-mimicking dye is aniline-free and can be used in Archroma’s water-saving Advanced Denim technology, to its recent launch of the purest indigo, the aniline-free pre-reduced liquid Denisol Pure Indigo liquid.

The sulfur-based Diresul RDT Indicolours dyes have been introduced by Archroma back in 2007 to offer a water-saving alternative to indigo for blue denim, especially when applied with Archroma’s recommended Advanced Denim application processes, Denim-Ox and Pad-Sizing-Ox.

Diresul Smartdenim Blue is a liquid sulfur dye that behaves like liquid indigo in elegant neutral-green blue tone and in the most common wash-down processes. It has been especially designed to address the limitations of the Indicolours earlier technology. The new dye has a greener shade, better fastness to minimise back staining, and allows to create overall wash-downs much closer to actual indigo than any other dyestuff, whilst avoiding greyish cast especially in bleaching with hypochlorite.

Diresul Smartdenim Blue can be applied in all the standard dyeing methods recommended for sulfur dyes, including pad-ox, pad-steam, exhaust, denim in all its variations (colour denim, bottoming and topping of indigo), as well as in the Advanced Denim procedures (Denim-Ox, Pad-Sizing-Ox).

The innovation is the brain child of the Global Competence Center for Denim & Special Dyes experts in Archroma’s Castellbisbal plant, near Barcelona, Spain, where Diresul Smartdenim Blue is produced.

“In the current context of tight availability of indigo precursors,” said Albert Llort, head of Archroma’s Global Competence Center for Denim & Special Dyes, “Archroma offers with Diresul Smartdenim Blue an alternative dyestuff to create new blue denim articles that is aniline-free and light in water consumption, but also offers a reliable supply source. Because it’s our nature!” (PC)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India