Reactive Dyes — Colactive Range — Avi Chemicals India

Reactive Dyes for Cotton, Viscose & Cellulosic Fibres — Manufacturer India

M, HE, ME, VS, P — covering cold brand, hot exhaust, CPB, and continuous dyeing. Exported to Bangladesh, Vietnam, Turkey, Italy, Indonesia, Philippines and 5 other countries. Free samples available.

Colactive M

The Colactive M series are monochlorotriazine-based cold brand reactive dyes designed for room temperature dyeing and printing on cotton, viscose, linen, and other cellulosic fibres. They form a covalent bond with cellulose under mild alkaline conditions (soda ash), delivering excellent colour brilliance and good wash fastness across a wide shade range including blues, reds, oranges, yellows, violets, and golden yellow. Application methods include cold exhaust, pad-batch, and screen printing. The M series is particularly favoured by dye houses seeking an economical cold-dyeing system without the need for elevated temperature equipment. Popular with cotton knit processors in Bangladesh and printed fabric manufacturers in Vietnam.

Reactive Blue 4 (Reactive Blue MR)

Reactive Blue 81 (Reactive Blue M2R)

Reactive Blue 9 (Reactive Navy Blue M3R)

Reactive Orange 14 (Reactive Yellow M4R)

Reactive Orange 4 (Reactive Orange M2R)

Reactive Orange 86 (Reactive Yellow M3R)

Reactive Red 11 (Reactive Red M8B)

Reactive Red 2 (Reactive Red M5B)

Reactive Violet 12 (Reactive Violet C4R)

Reactive Violet 13 (Reactive Magenta MB)

Reactive Yellow 22 (Reactive Yellow M4G)

Reactive Yellow 44 (Reactive Golden Yellow MR)

Customer Benefits

Economic range of cold brand dyes for room temp dyeing and printing

Application Method

Cold dyeing

Trichomy

Medium

Deep

Colactive HE

The Colactive HE series are hot exhaust reactive dyes offering economical application on cotton and cellulosic substrates at elevated temperatures (60–80°C). Particularly suitable for post-mercerised and post-bleached fabrics where higher temperature processing is standard. The HE range delivers reliable shade reproducibility and good levelling across pale to medium-heavy depth of shade. Includes navy, red, orange, yellow, green, and black shades. Recommended for jigger, winch, and jet dyeing machines. The HE series provides a cost-efficient alternative to bifunctional dyes for medium-depth shades where wash fastness requirements are standard.

Excellent reproducibility batch-to-batch on mercerised and bleached cotton
Compatible with all standard exhaust dyeing machines: jigger, jet, overflow, beam
Stable shade build from pale to medium-heavy depths
Suitable for post-mercerising applications requiring consistent colour on lustre fabric
Good compatibility with optical whiteners in pale shade dyeing
Recommended for hosiery and circular knit cotton dyeing at 60–80°C

Reactive Orange 94 (Reactive Orange HE2R)

Reactive Black HEBL

Reactive Green 19A (Reactive Green HE4BD)

Reactive Blue 198 (Reactive Blue HEGN)

Reactive Blue 160 (Reactive Blue HERD)

Reactive Blue 172 (Reactive Navy Blue HE2R)

Reactive Blue 171 (Reactive Navy Blue HER)

Reactive Red 152 (Reactive Red HE8B)

Reactive Red 141 (Reactive Red HE7B)

Reactive Red 120 (Reactive Red HE3B)

Reactive Orange 84 (Reactive Orange HER)

Reactive Yellow 84 (Reactive Golden Yellow HER)

Reactive Yellow 81 (Reactive Yellow HE4G)

Reactive Yellow 105 (Reactive Yellow HE3G)

Reactive Yellow 135 (Reactive Yellow HE6G)

Customer Benefits

Suitable for post mercerizing
Suitable for post bleaching

Application Method

Hot Exhaust Economical Dyes

Trichomy

Pale

Medium Heavy

Colactive ME

The Colactive ME series are bifunctional reactive dyes combining two reactive groups for superior fixation efficiency and wash fastness compared to monofunctional dyes. Particularly preferred for dark and deep shade dyeing — especially navy, black, and dark red — where build-up and wash-off performance are critical. The ME range offers excellent compatibility with CPB (cold pad batch) processes as well as exhaust dyeing. Good wash-off properties minimise post-dyeing washing steps, reducing water and energy consumption. Widely used by export-oriented garment dyehouses requiring consistent colour fastness across wash test standards.

Bifunctional chemistry: two reactive groups per molecule = higher fixation efficiency
Superior dark shade performance — specifically navy, black, dark red, dark brown
Excellent wash-off after dyeing: minimises post-wash staining on white ground
Reduces total process steps compared to single reactive group dyes at equivalent depth
CPB application preferred for dark shades: 20–25°C fixation temperature
Compatible with Glauber's salt or common salt in exhaust application
Low hydrolysis rate compared to M series at equivalent depth — better dye utilisation

Reactive Red 111 (Reactive Red BS)

Reactive Red 222 (Reactive Scarlet S2G)

Reactive Blue 248 (Reactive Blue ME2RL)

Reactive Blue 222 (Reactive Blue MEBF)

Reactive Blue 221 (Reactive Navy Blue BRF)

Reactive Blue 194 (Reactive Navy Blue ME2GL)

Reactive Red 223 (Reactive Red ME3GL)

Reactive Red 198 (Reactive Red MERBL)

Reactive Red 250 (Reactive Red ME6BL)

Reactive Red 195 (Reactive Red ME4BL)

Reactive Red 194 (Reactive Red ME3BL)

Reactive Scarlet MEBL

Reactive Orange 122 (Reactive Orange ME2RL)

Reactive Yellow 145 (Reactive Golden Yellow MERL)

Reactive Yellow 160A (Reactive Yellow ME4GL)

Customer Benefits

More preferable because of better build up for dark shades
Good wash off properties for good fastness levels

Application Method

Cold-pad-batch (Selectively)

Trichomy

Colactive VS

The Colactive VS series are vinyl sulphone-based reactive dyes offering outstanding colour brilliance, excellent fastness properties, and versatile process compatibility across multiple application methods. Vinyl sulphone dyes are particularly valued for their superior shade brightness — especially in turquoise, brilliant blue, and vibrant red — and their excellent wash-off characteristics after dyeing, which minimise the risk of staining in post-dyeing washing steps.

The VS series is widely used in cold pad batch (CPB) dyeing, making it highly suitable for long-yardage woven fabric production where energy efficiency is a priority. The range also includes excellent black and navy options with a choice between economic and high-fastness variants, making it one of the most versatile series in the Colactive range. Dischargeable shades for brown are available, making the VS series a preferred choice for discharge printing applications on cotton.

Application methods include cold pad batch, pad-dry-steam, pad-dry-chemical pad-steam, and pad-dry-thermofix — giving dye houses maximum process flexibility. The VS range is particularly popular with woven fabric processors and large-scale continuous dyeing operations in Bangladesh, Indonesia, South America, Vietnam, and Turkey.

Specs grid values:

Application method: CPB, Pad-Dry-Steam, Pad-Dry-Thermofix
Fibres: Cotton, Viscose, Linen, Modal
Wash fastness: 4–5
Light fastness: 4–5
Temperature range: 20–60°C (process dependent)
Best for: CPB, continuous dyeing, discharge printing

Reactive Black WNN

Reactive Blue 77 (Reactive Turqouise Blue H2GP

Reactive Orange 7 (Reactive Orange 2R)

Reactive Black 5 (Reactive Black B)

Reactive Black 31 (Reactive Black RL)

Reactive Blue 21 (Reactive Turqouise Blue G)

Reactive Blue 19 (Reactive Blue R)

Reactive Red 18 (Reactive Brown GR)

Reactive Blue 203 (Reactive Blue GG)

Reactive Blue 250 (Reactive Navy Blue RGB)

Reactive Blue 220 (Reactive Blue BB)

Reactive Violet 5 (Reactive Violet 5R)

Reactive Red 180 (Reactive Red F3B)

Reactive Red 35 (Reactive Red 5B)

Reactive Red 198 (Reactive Red RB)

Reactive Red 21 (Reactive Red BB)

Reactive Red 106 (Reactive Red C2G)

Reactive Orange 16 (Reactive Orange 3R)

Reactive Yellow 77 (Reactive Golden Yellow R)

Reactive Yellow 57 (Reactive Yellow H7GL)

Reactive Orange 107 (Reactive Golden Yellow RNL)

Reactive Yellow 15 (Reactive Yellow GR)

Reactive Yellow 37 (Reactive Yellow GL)

Reactive Yellow 42 (Reactive Yellow FG)

Customer Benefits

Various options available for black & navy in economic fastness
Good dischargeable shades for browns
Excellent wash off and fastness properties

Application Method

Cold-pad-batch
Pad-dry- chemical pad-steam (Selectively)
Pad-dry-steam (Selectively)
Pad-dry-thermofix (Selectively)

Trichomy

Colactive P Series

The Colactive P series are phosphonic acid-based reactive dyes designed for low-temperature, energy-efficient dyeing of cotton and cellulosic fibres. The P series is specifically engineered for dye houses seeking to reduce energy consumption without compromising colour yield or fastness performance — making it particularly relevant in markets where energy costs are a significant factor in total dyeing cost calculations.

The P series includes an important range of blacks and navies — including deep Black PGR, Black PN, and Navy P2R — which are among the most frequently purchased shades in any dye range globally. The availability of a complete trichromatic system within the P series allows dye houses to run consistent shade recipes with minimal metamerism issues across different light sources.

Application methods focus on exhaust dyeing at lower temperatures (40–60°C), making the P series compatible with modern energy-saving dyeing machines. The series is also suitable for printing applications and small-batch specialty dyeing. A technically strong choice for dye houses in Bangladesh operating energy-constrained production lines and for Indian processors targeting domestic market delivery requirements.

Specs grid values:

Application method: Exhaust (low temperature), Printing
Fibres: Cotton, Viscose, Cellulosic blends
Wash fastness: 4–5
Light fastness: 4–5
Temperature range: 40–60°C
Best for: Energy-saving exhaust dyeing, black/navy production

Reactive Blue 25 (Reactive Turquoise Blue P5G)

Reactive Red 31 (Reactive Red P8B

Reactive Red 45 (Reactive Red P2B)

Reactive Orange 38 (Reactive Orange P3R)

Reactive Yellow 57 (Reactive Yellow P7G)

Reactive Orange 35 (Reactive Orange P4R)

Reactive Red 245 (Reactive Red P4B)

Reactive Black PGR

Reactive Black 8 (Reactive Black PN)

Reactive Black 39 (Reactive Navy P2R)

Reactive Blue 49 (Reactive Blue P3R)

Reactive Blue 13 (Reactive Blue P5R)

Reactive Brown 9 (Reactive Red Brown P4R)

Reactive Red 218 (Reactive Red P6B)

Reactive Red 24 (Reactive Red PB)

Reactive Orange 13 (Reactive Orange P2R)

Reactive Orange 12 (Reactive Golden Yellow P3R)

Reactive Yellow 95 (Reactive Yellow PGR)

Reactive Yellow 85 (Reactive Yellow P6G)

Reactive Yellow 18 (Reactive Yellow P4G)

Frequently asked questions

Q1: What fibres can reactive dyes be used on?

A: Reactive dyes are primarily used on cellulosic fibres — cotton, viscose, linen, modal, lyocell, and bamboo. They can also be applied to wool and silk under modified (weakly acidic) conditions. Reactive dyes have zero affinity for polyester and should not be used on synthetic fibres.

Q2: What is the difference between Colactive M, HE, and ME reactive dyes?

A: Colactive M are cold brand dyes that fix at room temperature (25–40°C). Colactive HE are hot exhaust dyes requiring 60–80°C for fixation — more economical for standard depths. Colactive ME are bifunctional dyes combining two reactive groups for superior dark shade build-up and wash fastness — preferred for navy, black, and deep red.

Q3: What is the minimum order quantity for reactive dyes from Avi Chemicals?

A: Standard minimum order quantity is 25 kg per shade for export orders. For new customers, sample quantities (500g–1kg) are available free of charge for evaluation. Contact us to discuss your volume requirements.

Q4: Are your reactive dyes REACH and OEKO-TEX compliant?

A: We can provide full compliance documentation including Safety Data Sheets (SDS), technical datasheets, and REACH compliance information for all products. Buyers supplying European markets (Italy, Spain, Germany) should request our compliance pack when ordering samples.

Q5: What application processes are the Colactive VS dyes suitable for?

A: The Colactive VS (vinyl sulphone) series is suitable for cold pad batch (CPB), pad-dry-steam, pad-dry-chemical pad-steam, and pad-dry-thermofix processes. The VS series is also excellent for screen and rotary printing applications and offers good dischargeable shades in discharge printing.

Q6: What is the difference between vinyl sulphone (VS) and monochlorotriazine (M series) reactive dyes?

A: Vinyl sulphone reactive dyes (Colactive VS) fix via an addition reaction with cellulose under alkaline conditions, while monochlorotriazine dyes (Colactive M) fix via a substitution reaction. In practical terms, VS dyes offer brighter shades — particularly in turquoise and brilliant blues — and better wash-off characteristics after dyeing. M series dyes are more economical and easier to apply at room temperature, making them the preferred choice for cold brand dyeing where shade brilliance requirements are standard. VS dyes are preferred when CPB processing and discharge printing are required.

Q7: Can reactive dyes be used on polyester or synthetic fabrics?

A: No. Reactive dyes have no affinity for polyester, acrylic, or other synthetic fibres and will produce no colour uptake if applied to these substrates. Reactive dyes are specifically designed for cellulosic fibres — cotton, viscose, linen, modal, lyocell, and bamboo. For polyester dyeing, disperse dyes are required. For nylon and wool, acid dyes are the appropriate dye class.

Q8: What is cold pad batch (CPB) dyeing and which Colactive series are best for it?

A: Cold pad batch (CPB) dyeing is a continuous process in which fabric is padded with a mixture of reactive dye and alkali at room temperature, then batched (rolled up) and allowed to fix over 6–24 hours without heat. It is highly energy-efficient as no steam or elevated temperature is needed. The best Colactive series for CPB are VS (vinyl sulphone) and ME (bifunctional) — both offer excellent fixation at room temperature and good build-up for dark shades. The M series can also be used in CPB for pale to medium shades.

Q9: What alkali is used to fix reactive dyes on cotton?

A: The most commonly used alkali for reactive dye fixation on cotton is soda ash (sodium carbonate, Na₂CO₃). For exhaust dyeing, soda ash is added after the dye has levelled on the fabric. For CPB dyeing, caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) may be used in combination with soda ash for faster fixation. Sodium bicarbonate is used in printing pastes as a milder alkali. The choice of alkali, its concentration, and the addition method significantly affect fixation efficiency and reproducibility.

Q10: How do I improve wash fastness when using reactive dyes on cotton?

A: Wash fastness with reactive dyes depends primarily on three factors: correct fixation (ensuring full covalent bond formation during the dyeing step), thorough soaping-off after dyeing (removing hydrolysed dye from the fabric surface), and the choice of dye class. For maximum wash fastness, use bifunctional ME series dyes which have higher fixation efficiency than monofunctional M series dyes. Always perform a hot soaping step at 95°C with a non-ionic detergent after fixation. For critical wash fastness requirements (Rating 5), select dyes specifically recommended for this by your supplier.

Q11: What is the fixation efficiency of reactive dyes and how does unfixed dye affect the process?

A: Reactive dyes typically achieve 70–80% fixation efficiency — meaning 20–30% of the applied dye hydrolyses (reacts with water instead of fibre) and must be removed in the post-dyeing wash-off step. Hydrolysed dye that remains on the fabric surface reduces wash fastness. The ME (bifunctional) series achieves higher fixation efficiency (75–85%) compared to M series (65–75%), which is why ME dyes are preferred for dark shades where residual surface dye is most problematic. Thorough wash-off — cold rinse, hot wash at 95°C, soaping, final cold rinse — is essential regardless of dye series used.

Q12: Are your reactive dyes available with REACH compliance documentation?

Yes. Avi Chemicals can provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS), technical datasheets, and REACH compliance information for all products in the Colactive reactive dye range. Buyers supplying European brands or retailers with ZDHC, OEKO-TEX, or bluesign requirements should request our full compliance documentation pack when ordering samples. Contact our exports team at info@avichemicals.com with your specific compliance requirements.

Avi Chemicals is a manufacturer and bulk exporter of reactive dyes based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Our Colactive reactive dye range — comprising M Series, HE Series, ME Series, VS Series, and P Series — covers the complete spectrum of reactive dyeing applications for cotton, viscose, linen, modal, and lyocell fibres. We supply reactive dyes to textile mills, garment dyehouses, and fabric processors in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Turkey, Indonesia, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Sri Lanka, and the UAE. Our reactive dyes are available in powder form with full technical documentation, safety data sheets, and compliance certification. We offer free samples for evaluation and custom shade development for specific requirements. Contact our technical team to discuss your reactive dyeing requirements or request an export quote.