A solvent dye is a dye soluble in

organic solvent A solvent (s) (from the Latin '' solvō'', "loosen, untie, solve") is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. A solvent is usually a liquid but can also be a solid, a gas, or a supercritical fluid. Water is a solvent for ...

s. It is usually used as a solution in an organic solvent. Solvent Dye
/ref> Solvent dyes are used to color organic solvents, hydrocarbon fuels,

wax Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are lipophilic, malleable solids near ambient temperatures. They include higher alkanes and lipids, typically with melting points above about 40 °C (104 °F), melting to giv ...

es, lubricants,

plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adaptab ...

s, and other hydrocarbon-based nonpolar materials.

Fuel dyes Fuel dyes are dyes added to fuels, as in some countries it is required by law to dye a low-tax fuel to deter its use in applications intended for higher-taxed ones. Untaxed fuels are referred to as "dyed", while taxed ones are called "clear" or "w ...

are one use of solvent dyes. Their molecules are typically

nonpolar In chemistry, polarity is a separation of electric charge leading to a molecule or its chemical groups having an electric dipole moment, with a negatively charged end and a positively charged end. Polar molecules must contain one or more polar ...

or little polar, and they do not undergo ionization. They are insoluble in water. They form a colloidal solution in solvents. They have poor (basic dyes) to good (metal complex based) light fastness. Solvent dyes are used for gold imitation (and other transparent metallic effects) of metallized polyester films. Also used in marking inks, inkjet inks, glass coloration, and so on. Names of solvent dyes are often generic, of the scheme "solvent <color> <number>", e.g. Solvent Red 24, Solvent Red 26,

Solvent Red 164 Sudan III is a lysochrome (fat-soluble dye) diazo dye. It is structurally related to azobenzene. Uses It is used to color nonpolar substances such as oils, fats, waxes, greases, various hydrocarbon products, and acrylic emulsions. Its main ...

, Solvent Yellow 124, Solvent Blue 35, etc. Red and yellow solvent dyes are often azo dyes, green and blue ones tend to be anthraquinone dyes.

References

{{Dyeing Dyes