acid dye

noun

Meaning

A water-soluble anionic dye used primarily for protein fibers like wool, silk, and nylon, which requires an acidic environment to bond effectively to the material.

Examples

  • She used an acid dye to achieve a deep, saturated crimson on the hand-spun silk scarf.
  • Because wool is a protein fiber, it reacts beautifully when processed with an acid dye.

Synonyms: anionic dye, protein dye