Thiourea Dixide (TDO) performs the same as the brand name Spectralite or Thiox, which are classic mordants known in the industry, used as an reduction agent to remove oxygen for chemical dyeing techniques. It is an excellent dye remover for cotton, rayon, linen, wool, silk, and blends, which have been dyed with fiber reactive dyes such as procion or direct dyes.
TDO is not hydroscopic and is absolutely free from deliquescence of caking. It does not emit obnoxious sulfurous gas like sodium hydrosulfite when used for dye remover. An aqueous solution of TDO is very stable when stored for processing fabrics at different pH.This means the process and quality controls in continuous dyeing, bleaching, reducing-washing and decolourizing operations are easy and dependable. TDO shows very high reduction potential in aqueous solution. Hence dyes difficult to reduce and decolourize with sodium hydrosulfite are possible with TDO. In bleaching wool, uniform dyeing is achieved with TDO due to its slow decomposition in bleaching solution. Furthermore TDO can be used in continuous steam bleaching with far less shrinkage and damage than using sodium hydrosulfide. It is also more environmentally friendly with economical savings since less waste water pollution.
