Indigo Blue

Brief Overview 

Indigo dye is a natural or synthetic dye that produces a deep blue color. Historically, it has been derived from the leaves of certain plants, particularly the Indigofera genus, which contains a high concentration of the blue pigment. The process of extracting the dye involves fermentation and oxidation of the plant material.

Today, synthetic indigo dyes are more commonly used in the textile industry due to their availability, cost-effectiveness, and consistency in color. However, there's also a growing interest in natural indigo due to its sustainability and eco-friendly aspects, leading to its revival in certain artisanal and sustainable textile practices.

Manufacturing Process

Indigo dye is made from the leaves of Polygonum Tinctorium. The indigo leaves are fermented for 2 to 3 months into a black clump with 2 - 10 % of indigo pigment. Wood ash, lime and bran are then mixed with the indigo clump and subjected to further water mixing, heated to 30~40℃, and then dried to form insoluble blue indigo.

Indigo is subjected to sulfonation with concentrated sulfuric acid, followed by dilution and then neutralization with soda ash. Sodium chloride is then added for salting out, before the mixture is filtered, washed and dried to get the finished product.

Textile Industry

Indigo dye has been integral to the textile industry for centuries due to its ability to produce a range of beautiful blue shades. Its usage in the textile industry is significant for its versatility, durability, and resistence.