Dyes are organic compounds that color substrates like textiles. Disperse dyes in particular are suitable for dyeing hydrophobic fibers like acetate and polyester as they are nonionic, have low water solubility, and require dispersing agents to carry them during the dyeing process. The first disperse dye, called ionamine, was created in 1922 but did not work well; improved versions using sulpho ricinoleic acid as the dispersing agent were developed in the 1920s and this class of dyes was officially named "disperse dyes" in 1953.

2.  Dyes are coloured, unsaturated organic
chemical compounds capable of giving
colour to a substrate (a textile), i.e.
colouring or dyeing it.

3.  The term “disperse dye” have been
applied to the organic colouring
substances which are free from ionizing
groups, are of low water solubility and
are suitable for dyeing hydrophobic
fibres.

4.  In 1922, Green and Saunders made one type of
coloured azo compound, in which a solubilizing
group (for example- methyl sulphate, -CH2-SO3H) is
attached to amino group. This free azo compound
was capable of dyeing cellulose acetate fibres. This
dye was named “ionamine”. But this ion amine did
not give satisfactory result in dyeing.

5.  In 1924, Baddiley and Ellis produced sulpho
ricinoleic acid (SRA) for dyeing acetate
fibres. This SRA was used as dispersing
agent. Later it was seen that SRA was
capable of dyeing Nylon, polyester, acrylic
etc.
 In 1953 this dye was named as “Disperse
Dye”.

6.  Disperse dyes are nonionic dyes. So they are
free from ionizing group.
 They are ready made dyes and are insoluble in
water or have very low water solubility.
 They are organic colouring substances which
are suitable for dyeing hydrophobic fibres.

7.  Disperse dyes are used for dyeing man made
cellulose ester and synthetic fibres specially
acetate and polyester fibres and sometimes
nylon and acrylic fibres.
 Carrier or dispersing agents are required for
dyeing with disperse dyes.
 Disperse dyes have fair to good light fastness
with rating about 4-5.

8. According to Chemical Structure,
 Nitro Dyes
 Amino Ketone dyes
 Anthraquinonoid dyes
 Mono azo dyes
 Di- azo dyes