Procion MX or Drimarene K

[yuki-onna]

Can a more experienced dyer list the pros and cons for both.
Most research only turns up Procion MX very little about Drimarene k

[pburch]

The pros and cons are mostly the same. Both are fiber reactive dyes, both are very colorfast, both are easy to use, both are pretty much non-toxic but can induce bad allergies if you breathe them, both are commonly used by home dyers. (In the US and Europe, Drimerene K dye for hand dyers is found in Dylon Permanent and Dylon Machine and Dylon Hand Dye, and possibly also the new line called Tulip Permanent.)

Drimarene K requires a little more warmth in tie-dyeing, typically 40°C instead of the 30°C that's good for Procion MX. If your temperatures are too low, wrap the items individually in plastic wrap then take them into a warm place, or see other ideas on my page, What is the effect of temperature on fiber reactive dyes?. For immersion dyeing, the manufacturer recommends temperatures of 60°C to 80°C (that's 140°F to 176°F), but you can use lower temperatures as long as you allow enough extra time, and don't let it get too cool. If your colors come out paler than you expect, blame the temperature first.

The biggest advantage of Procion dyes, if you can mail-order them from the right companies in the US, is cost. Here in the US we can buy enough Procion MX dye to color a pound of fiber to a medium shade for as little as 40 cents, American. Costs in Australia are considerably higher; the cheapest Procion MX in Australia I can find is over three times the cost, after correcting for currency. Drimerene K is another 50% higher, so Procion MX is still a little more economical than Drimarene K. See my chart of a comparison of dye costs.

Drimarene K dye might be a little easier to wash out after dyeing, to get out the excess unattached dye, than Procion MX is. Might not require as much water. For either Procion MX or Drimarene K, boiling water is far more efficient for this purpose than warm water, especially if you soak in an insulated container to keep the water hot longer. Start with cool water to remove the auxiliary chemicals, before using hot water for washing out.

-Paula

[yuki-onna]

Thankyou for the detailed reply Paula, it's a little difficult trying something new when the only info you have is Google lol.
The reason for my question was I came across a supplier but she mostly stocks Drimarene K though she will order Procion in, she likes the Drimarene better as she says it doesn't go off (for want of a better term) once made up, whereas Procion MX does, is this the case?
Also is there a marked difference in the quality of colour between the 2?
Can you use both dyes on the one project?
One more question, sorry Paula, do you have instructions on how to use the Campden tablets to stop the bleaching process?

Thankyou again for being such a big help

[pburch]

The reason for my question was I came across a supplier but she mostly stocks Drimarene K though she will order Procion in, she likes the Drimarene better as she says it doesn't go off (for want of a better term) once made up, whereas Procion MX does, is this the case?

Drimerene K dyes last longer after you mix them with water than Procion MX dyes do. This is for the same reason that Drimarene K dyes require a warmer reaction temperature: Drimarene K dyes are a little less quick to react than Procion MX dyes are.

Also is there a marked difference in the quality of colour between the 2? Can you use both dyes on the one project?

Both ranges of dyes contain several different dyes of each primary color. Both are lacking a good unmixed green. I think that the black sold by Batik Oetoro under their Drimarene K dyes is a Remazol dye, reactive black 5, not a Drimarene K dye at all; it's a good unmixed black dye. Yes, you can mix these types of dye in tie-dyeing or dye painting. The color of the results of mixing them for solid color high water ratio immersion dyeing might be difficult to predict because of the different speed of reaction at a given temperature.

One more question, sorry Paula, do you have instructions on how to use the Campden tablets to stop the bleaching process?

My page How can I neutralize the damaging effects of chlorine bleach? mentions that each Camden tablet contains 1/16th teaspoon (0.3 ml) of sodium bisulfite. Use it interchangeably with that volume of Anti-chlor (sodium metabisulfite). It works out to six or seven tablets per gallon (4 liters) of water to make your neutralizing bath. You can use sodium sulfite and sodium metabisulfite interchangeably, but never, ever use sodium bisulfAte by mistake! (The mnemonic of what will happen is "sodium bisulfATE ATE my fabric.")  Don't forget to rinse your hypochlorite-bleached fabric with water before putting it in your Anti-chlor bath.

-Paula