Colorants can be either dyes or pigments. Dyes are soluble colored organic compounds that are usually applied to textiles from a solution in water. They are designed to bond strongly to the polymer molecules that make up the textile fibre. Pigments are insoluble compounds used in paints, printing inks, ceramics and plastics. They are applied by using dispersion in a suitable medium.

Nylon is a synthetic fiber widely used in industrial applications due to its abrasion resistance, durability, high “stretch” ability, and resilience. They are also used extensively in sportswear and hi-tech light-weight microfiber garments which provide improved breathability, water resistance, durability, and comfort.  Organic Dyes and Pigments offers a number of lines of acid dyes, low-energy disperse dyes, and pigment dispersions for nylon providing a wide shade and physical property range.

Polyester is a synthetic fiber widely used in industrial applications due to its abrasion & stretch resistance, durability, chemical resistance, and resilience.  The most common polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is used extensively on all types of apparel including sportswear and hi-tech light-weight microfiber garments which provide improved breathability, water resistance, durability, and comfort.  Home furnishings such as carpet, drapes, upholstery, and pillow fiber-fill are large consumers of polyester fiber and fabric.  Many automotive fabrics and woven’s such as headliners, car seat covers, and safety belts can be dyed using nanoshel high-lightfast disperse dyes. 

Colorants are normally understood to include both pigments and dyestuff. Pigments refer mainly to inorganic salts and oxides, such as iron and chromium oxides, which are usually dispersed in crystal or powder form in an application medium. The color properties of the dispersion depend on the particle size and form of the pigment. Pigment colorants tend to be the highly durable, heat stable, solvent resistant, lightfast, and migration fast.

Pigments are colored, colorless, or fluorescent particulate organic or inorganic finely divided solids which are usually insoluble in, and essentially chemically unaffected by, the vehicle or medium in which they are incorporated. They alter appearance either by selective absorption and/or scattering of light. Organic and inorganic pigment powders are finely divided crystalline solids that are essentially insoluble in application media such as ink or paint.