Dyes
coloring
materials that are applied as a solution and cling to whatever they are applied
to (e.g., textiles, hair, wood, food)—can be used for decorative, aesthetic,
and artistic purposes. They can also be used as identifiers, like the purple
dye that some countries use to mark voters' fingers during an election or the
wool dyes that sheep herders use to mark the sheep in their flocks. Fluorescent
brightening dyes improve the appearance of textiles and paper. Contrast agents
and fluorescent dyes make selected cells and organs stand out for biological
and medical imaging. Dye-based lasers are not only powerful, but they also emit
laser light over a range of wavelengths, producing "tunable" laser
beams for manufacturing, medical applications, astronomical research, and
spectroscopy. Dye laser beams can even be used to vaporize tattoo inks.
Pigments are
used for artists' paints, car finishes, and light-reflecting signs. They are
insoluble materials that have to be mixed with binders or vehicles to attach
them to a substrate. Pigments are often derived from minerals, but they can
also be made synthetically. Pigments are used in paints, inks, plastics,
fabrics, cosmetics, and food, to name a few examples. They are often better
than dyes at keeping their color for many centuries and for withstanding high
heat, intense light, and exposure to weather or chemical agents.
Phthalocyanine Pigments For Industrial Coatings | Phthalocyanine Pigments For Fiber | Phthalocyanine Pigments For Polyolefins (PP/HDPE/LDPE) | Phthalocyanine Pigments For PVC | Phthalocyanine Pigments For Textile Paste
Inks are
liquids or pastes that contain dyes or pigments, and they are used for writing
pens, printing, and tattoos. Anti-counterfeiting inks, including gel inks, some
fountain pen inks, and inks used for paper currency, react with the cellulose
in paper to produce a permanent color change.
Although
they are not strictly inks, liquids used for inkjet technologies like
microcircuitry fabrication and 3D printing benefit from much of the same
research used to develop more conventional inks: consistency and flow
properties, electrostatic properties, adhesion to a substrate, resistance to
bleeding and spreading, solvent compatibility properties, and resolution and
stability of the resulting patterns or 3D structures.
The field of
3D printing materials has largely been the domain of experimenters and
do-it-yourselfers, but the demand for reliable commercial products is
increasing. Companies now use this method for small- and medium-scale
production of customized machine parts, gourmet food items, and even customized
artificial body parts. However, major manufacturing companies are looking into
3D printing for large-scale production of machine parts, toys, and consumer
electronics. Cutting-edge industries are currently using 3D printing for making
prototype reactors and systems, including "printing" living cells
onto a substrate for use in drug discovery research.
Chemists who
work with dyes, pigments, and inks develop new formulations that use less
expensive ingredients or hold their colors better. They may develop new
formulations that avoid heavy metals and volatile organic compounds or that use
sustainable resources like vegetable oils. They may also develop new products
with better flow properties, greater stability, or better interactions with the
materials with which they come into contact.
Museum
workers analyze the pigments and dyes in historical artifacts and works of art
to authenticate them and identify their age and place of origin. These workers
look for materials that are compatible with older dyes and pigments to preserve
and restore valuable objects. Forensic chemists analyze evidence, including car
paint or cosmetics residues, for criminal or civil court cases.
Typical work
duties include the following:
- Synthesize and characterize new products, components, and formulations
- Develop new applications for existing products
- Develop and provide marketing support for commercial products
- Provide customer support and troubleshooting assistance in the application of commercial products
- Study and improve health, safety, and environmental properties
- Analyze pigments and dyes from historical artifacts, works of art, or crime scene evidence
- Teach courses and train students
- Communicate with funding agencies, regulatory agencies, and the general public.
