What is soda ash used for?
Soda ash changes the pH of the fiber-reactive dye and cellulose fiber so that the dye reacts with the fiber, making a permanent connection that holds the dye to the fiber. (It can also be used with silk, but not other protein fibers such as wool.) How do you use soda ash with Procion MX and similar fiber reactive dyes? There are three choices, depending on what you’re doing: add the soda ash before the dye, add it with the dye, or add it afterwards. Adding the soda ash before the dye is the usual method for tie-dye. First tie the garments, or leave them loose. Make up a solution of 1/2 or 1 cup of soda ash per gallon of water (soda ash dissolves best in warm water, 96 degrees F. or 35 degrees C.), and soak the material from 5 minutes to an hour, depending on your recipe and materials. Then, wearing gloves, wring out the material, and prepare to apply the dye. (Optionally, you may chose to line-dry your soda-ash-presoaked garments, for some dyeing techniques. The soda ash stays in the f
Soda ash changes the pH of the fiber-reactive dye and cellulose fiber so that the dye reacts with the fiber, making a permanent connection that holds the dye to the fiber. It actually activates the fiber molecules so that they can chemically attack the dye. (It can also be used with silk, but not other protein fibers such as wool.
