Basic Blue 26

Basic Blue 26 (Victoria blue B) is red red and brown in concentrated sulfuric acid, and then turns blue from yellow to green after dilution. It is olive green in concentrated nitric acid. Add hydrochloric acid to precipitate blue. Add 10% sulfuric acid solution to cotton dye, slightly green and dark. Drip 10% acid stannous chloride solution into a yellowish brown color. Cotton fibers dyed with tannin mordant are brilliant blue and greenish dark under tungsten light.

TRADE NAME:Victoria blue B,Brilliant Blue 3RF,Basic Blue B

Key features

• Type: cationic (basic), water-soluble dye
• Shade: bright/deep blue with high tinting strength
• Excellent solubility and easy dispersion in aqueous systems
• Good substantivity to cationic substrates (e.g., acrylics, coated paper)
• Compatible with common ink, coating and leather formulations
• Moderate light and wash fastness; fastness can be improved in formulation
• Stable under normal pH ranges; avoid strong oxidizers

Technical Specifications

• ‍CAS NO: 2580-56-5
• CI.NO: 44045
• Molecular Formula: C33H32ClN3
• Molecular Weight: 506.08
• Shade: bright blue. Deep purple or celadon powder.‍

Colour Fastness Test

Application:

• ‍1.For silk and wool dyeing,
• 2.Tannin mordant cotton dyeing.
• 3.Also work on typing stencil paper, carbon paper and common paper dyeing
• 4.bamboo and wood coloring
• 5.manufacturing of color lake and solvent dyes‍

Basic Blue 26 Use condition:

• ‍1. Silk dyeing: used for silk dyeing, carried out in acetic acid bath. Now it is rarely used.
• 2. Acrylic fiber dyeing: used for acrylic fiber dyeing, grade 2 fastness to sunlight, grade 4 fastness to soaping, grade 4 fastness to perspiration and grade 3 fastness to dry friction
• Class iii, wet rubbing fastness grade iii, ironing, dry cleaning, water immersion fastness grade 4-5.
• 3. Wool dyeing: it can be used for wool dyeing. The fastness to sunlight is grade 1~2, and the fastness to soaping is grade 3.
• 4. Cotton dyeing: tannin mordant dyeing cotton fiber are available, and sunlight fastness 1 ~ 2 level in cotton, soaping fade and touch fastness are level 4, with water fade and fastness are level 4, with color and fade in color fastness to perspiration for level 4, iron fastness 4 ~ 5 level, dry rubbing fastness for 3 ~ 4, wet rubbing fastness of grade 2. Resistance to sulfuric acid fastness for 1 ~ 2 magnitude, resistance to acetic acid fastness to a category four, soda ash resistant fastness to level 2. Is now rarely used.
• 5. Others: can be used for hemp, leather, bamboo, typing wax paper, carbon paper and general paper dyeing, also used for the manufacture of lake and solvent dyes.‍

FAQ

Is Basic Blue 26 the same as Victoria Blue B?

Yes — Basic Blue 26 is commonly sold under the synonym Victoria Blue B (CI 44045, CAS 2580-56-5). Manufacturers may list several trade names, but the chemical identity and CI number confirm equivalence. Always check the CAS/CI numbers on the product specification to ensure you have the correct dye batch. 

Which fibers take Basic Blue 26 best and what pre-treatments help?

Protein fibers like wool and silk show the best uptake because Basic Blue 26 is cationic and binds well to negatively charged sites on these fibers. For cellulose (cotton) you will need a cationisation pretreatment or mordant/carrier to achieve substantive dyeing; otherwise shade and washfastness will be poor. For more uniform shades on wool, control liquor ratio, temperature and pH during exhaustion.

How does pH affect the color and application?

Basic Blue 26 exhibits pH-dependent behavior: at strongly acidic or alkaline conditions its visible shade can shift and precipitation or color change may occur. Maintain the manufacturer's recommended pH window during dyeing to preserve hue and solubility; small pH adjustments can be used intentionally to fine-tune shade during formulation. 

What are realistic fastness expectations and how to improve them?

By itself, Basic Blue 26 typically gives moderate-to-low light and wash fastness on protein fibers (grade often low without treatments). Improve fastness by: using appropriate mordants/after-treatment resins, applying UV absorbers in finishing, increasing dye fixation via pH/temperature control, or converting to lake pigments for pigment-grade applications. Always run small-scale tests that mimic end-use conditions.

Can Basic Blue 26 be used for biological staining or fluorescence?

Yes — Basic Blue 26 (Victoria Blue) is referenced in literature as a histological stain and can act as a fluorochrome in some assays. However, concentrations, solvents and handling for lab use differ from industrial dyeing — follow lab protocols and supplier assay-grade specifications when used in biochemical contexts. 

Are there regulatory or safety restrictions I should check?

Regulatory status varies by region and application (textiles, cosmetics, food contact, etc.). CI number listings (CI 44045) may be permitted for some product classes in some markets but not others—always consult local regulations, the product MSDS, and supplier compliance documentation before using in regulated consumer products.