High-Performance Heterocyclic Azo Dye for Digital Textile Printing & Sublimation Inks: Disperse Blue 360 (CAS 70693-64-0)

Disperse Blue 360 (C.I. Disperse Blue 360, CAS: 70693-64-0) is a high-performance heterocyclic azo disperse dye with the molecular formula C₁₄H₁₇N₅O₂S and a molecular weight of 319.38 g/mol. The IUPAC name is N,N-diethyl-3-methyl-4-[(E)-(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)diazenyl]aniline, and its structure consists of a thiazole ring linked to an N,N-diethyl-2-methylphenylamine scaffold through an azo linkage, with a nitro group at the 5‑position of the thiazole moiety. The dye appears as a dark blue to dark green powder with high tinctorial strength, low water solubility, and excellent dispersion stability in aqueous media.

As a heterocyclic disperse dye, Disperse Blue 360 is specifically designed for the coloration of hydrophobic synthetic fibers — polyester (PET), nylon (polyamide), acetate, polypropylene, chlorofibre, and acrylic — under high-temperature, high-pressure (HT/HP) dyeing conditions (≈130 °C) or by thermosol (pad-dry-heat) methods. Because the dye is water‑insoluble, it must be finely dispersed in water with the aid of dispersants to achieve uniform distribution in the dye bath.

The unique heterocyclic azo structure incorporating a thiazole ring with a nitro substituent gives this dye outstanding technical performance characteristics. It exhibits high molar absorptivity (high dye uptake), excellent lightfastness (typically grade 5–6 on the blue wool scale), superior rubbing fastness and sublimation fastness, and excellent washing and perspiration fastness (grade 4–5 across most textile testing standards). The relatively low melting point (sublimation range 180–240 °C) and high vapor pressure under heat make it exceptionally well‑suited for thermal transfer application mechanisms. It is the preferred choice for high-speed inkjet printing and heat transfer applications where durability, stability, and high coloration intensity are required.

Core Application Fields

Disperse Blue 360 is widely used in four major industrial sectors: sublimation inks for digital textile printing, traditional textile dyeing and printing of polyester and its blends, digital ink‑jet printing, and specialty applications such as plastic masterbatches, resin coloring, and industrial coatings.

1. Sublimation Inks for Digital Textile Printing. Disperse Blue 360 is a core component in high-performance sublimation ink formulations used in ink‑jet printers for heat transfer printing. Under high temperature and pressure (180–240 °C), the dye molecules sublime (transition from solid to gas) and penetrate the surface of polyester fibers, where they become trapped and fixed upon cooling. The small molecular size of Disperse Blue 360 allows the dye to move freely into the amorphous regions between polymer chains, creating strong, stable bonds with the fiber matrix without altering the fabric‘s hand feel. High‑purity ink‑jet grades (≥98 % HPLC purity) such as those used in premium‑grade sublimation inks ensure low nozzle clogging, consistent drop ejection, and excellent color reproducibility. Leading ink formulators utilize advanced dispersant technologies to stabilize the dye particles, producing aqueous dispersions with extremely low impurity profiles and superior printability for high-speed textile printing. The range is also explicitly listed in patent literature for use in sublimation-transfer ink‑jet ink compositions that produce green tones with satisfactory fluorescent whitening intensity and excellent storage stability.

2. Traditional Textile Dyeing and Printing. The dye is used in conventional HT/HP vessel dyeing of polyester and its blends (especially polyester/cotton blends for sportswear and fashion apparel). In the exhaustion dyeing process, the finely dispersed dye is carried by water into the fiber at elevated temperature, where the polymer chains open up and allow the dye molecules to diffuse into the fiber interior. The superior build-up properties (uniform dye uptake without precipitation) ensure level dyeing without shading or streaking. By combining disperse dyes with other color indices — Disperse Yellow 54, Disperse Orange 25, Disperse Red 60, Disperse Violet 28 and Disperse Black options — formulators achieve a wide gamut of brilliant, fast shades across the visible spectrum. The dye also demonstrates good transfer printing performance for custom textiles, promotional items, flags, banners, and home furnishing fabrics that require high precision and durability.

3. Digital Ink‑Jet Printing. Disperse Blue 360 is specifically engineered for use in direct-to-fabric ink‑jet printers (industrial digital textile printing machines) where the ink is jetted directly onto the fabric and fixed with heat. Its excellent dispersion stability prevents agglomeration in printhead nozzles, reducing printer downtime and maintenance costs. The dye‘s fastness properties — high water‑fastness, excellent dry/wet rubbing fastness, good perspiration fastness and high resistance to fading under light and ozone exposure — make it suitable for automotive textiles, outdoor fabrics, swimwear, and performance sportswear exposed to sunlight, sweat, and repeated washing. In black ink formulations, C.I. Disperse Blue 360 is combined with other dyes to achieve neutral black shades with deep color depth and high vibrancy.

4. Plastic Masterbatch & Resin Coloring. Disperse Blue 360 finds specialized application in the plastics and coatings industries, where it is used to color masterbatch formulations for polyester resins, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and engineering plastics. It is incorporated into industrial coatings for colored finishes on consumer goods and industrial components.

Market Demand & Regional Dynamics

The global disperse dyes market was valued at approximately USD 3.61 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to USD 5.02 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 6.9 %. The high‑fastness disperse dyes segment — which includes products such as Disperse Blue 360 — is forecast to rise from USD 1.5 billion in 2024 to USD 2.1 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 4.5 %. The expansion of polyester fiber production, which increased from around 71 million tonnes in 2023 to approximately 78 million tonnes in 2024, is a major driver of this growth. The increasing adoption of water‑efficient dyeing technologies, rising regulatory pressure on dye effluents (especially in China and India), and growing demand for sustainable, low‑impact textile coloration methods are accelerating the shift toward high‑purity, high‑performance disperse dyes with certified environmental compliance.

Asia-Pacific is the dominant region for both production and consumption, led by China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. China is the global manufacturing hub for disperse dyes, supplying both domestic textile and digital printing industries and export markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Key manufacturers such as Zhejiang Runtu, Lonsen Kiri, and others operate large‑scale integrated production facilities. Europe and North America demand high‑purity (>99 %) ink‑jet grade dyes that meet stringent environmental specifications (OEKO‑TEX STANDARD 100, REACH, ZDHC). Export shipments of Disperse Blue 360 fall under HS Code 3204110015.

Regulatory & Environmental Compliance

Disperse Blue 360 is not listed as a prohibited dye under OEKO‑TEX STANDARD 100, REACH Annex XVII, or China GB 18401. Leading suppliers provide OEKO‑TEX, BLUESIGN, and ZDHC certificates, confirming compliance with global textile environmental safety standards. The product is registered under REACH (EC 1907/2006) with EC Number 435-600-5. The chemical is classified as Flam. Sol. 1 (H228 — flammable solid) and Aquatic Chronic 4 (H413 — may cause long‑lasting harmful effects to aquatic life). Proper storage conditions include keeping the product in a cool, dry, well‑ventilated area away from ignition sources, strong oxidizing agents, and strong acids, with packaging sealed after each use.

Future Outlook

The demand for Disperse Blue 360 will be driven by three core factors: (1) the continued growth of the global digital textile printing industry, which is expanding at 10‑12 % annually; (2) the adoption of high‑purity, low‑impurity dye grades required by advanced printhead nozzle technology; (3) the increasing demand for OEKO‑TEX‑certified sustainable dye products in developed economies, where consumers are more conscious of chemical residues in consumer textiles.

Shanghai XinChem Co., Ltd. (XinChem)

As a world‑leading supplier of organic chemicals and specialty dyes, Shanghai XinChem Co., Ltd. (XinChem) has always focused on the innovative needs of the digital textile printing, sublimation ink, and industrial chemical industries. Relying on core advantages in sourcing, quality assurance, and global logistics, we provide high‑quality Disperse Blue 360 (C.I. Disperse Blue 360, CAS 70693-64-0) to customers worldwide.

1. Technical Advantages

• High purity & consistency: Purity ≥94.0 %–99.0 % (by HPLC), dark blue to dark green powder, water content ≤0.5 %, ash ≤0.3 %, insoluble in DMF ≤0.3 %, magnetic metal content ≤100 ppm.
• Excellent color strength: Standard color strength of 400 % with high tinctorial power and build‑up properties, delivering deep, uniform shades with minimal dye consumption.
• Dispersion stability: Aqueous dispersions with narrow particle size distribution (>95 % passing 40‑mesh), pH 6‑8, conductivity ≤200 µS/cm. Low hydrophilicity ensures strong fiber‑dye bonding.
• Fastness properties: Lightfastness grade 6‑7 (blue wool scale), excellent washing, dry/wet rubbing, perspiration, and sublimation fastness (grade 4‑5 to 5 depending on test method). Good ozone resistance for long‑term color retention.
• Batch‑to‑batch uniformity: Rigorous quality control covering HPLC purity, particle size distribution, dispersion stability, color strength, and shade consistency ensures reliable, reproducible performance across every shipment.

2. Product Advantages

• Multipurpose dye platform: Sublimation inks for ink‑jet printers, direct‑to‑fabric digital printing, heat transfer paper printing, polyester garment dyeing, nylon and acetate coloration, and masterbatch compounding for plastics.
• Printer‑ready performance: Optimized for high‑speed ink‑jet printheads, with low clogging risk (due to high purity), excellent jetting stability, fast drying, and high wash‑off resistance.
• Patent‑validated technology: Explicitly referenced in multiple Seiko Epson patents for sublimation‑transfer ink‑jet compositions, demonstrating established industry acceptance for high‑performance digital printing applications.
• OEKO‑TEX & REACH compliant: Product supplied with OEKO‑TEX, BLUESIGN, ZDHC certificates available upon request. EC number 435-600-5. HS code 3204110015.
• Flexible packaging: 25 kg fiber drums, 50 kg cardboard drums, 100 kg, 180 kg, and 200 kg industrial drums. Smaller R&D packaging: 100 g, 500 g, 1 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg, and 25 kg custom packs.
• Reliable supply chain: Multi‑hundred‑ton annual capacity, dedicated cool dry warehousing (ambient temperature, light‑protected, sealed containers), and just‑in‑time delivery.

3. Application Fields

• Sublimation inks: Heat transfer ink‑jet printing (digital sublimation) for polyester sportswear, fashion apparel, home textiles, flags, banners, promotional items, and custom fabric products.
• Traditional textile dyeing: Exhaust (HT/HP) and continuous dyeing of polyester, nylon, acetate, polypropylene, chlorofibre, and acrylic; printing of polyester and poly/cotton blends for garments and technical textiles.
• Digital ink‑jet printing: Industrial direct‑to‑fabric printing for automotive upholstery, outdoor performance textiles, swimwear, and activewear.
• Plastic masterbatch & coatings: Coloring of polyester resins, engineering plastics (ABS, PC, PET), TPU, PVC; industrial coatings for consumer goods and specialized finishing.
• Transfer printing paper: Coating formulations for transfer paper used in customized fashion, gift items, and home décor textiles.

4. Service Support
Our technical team provides dispersion stability analysis, particle size characterization, fastness testing, and regulatory documentation (Certificate of Analysis, Technical Data Sheet, Safety Data Sheet, REACH compliance, OEKO‑TEX certification, TSCA certification). We also offer custom packaging, cold‑chain logistics, and just‑in‑time delivery.

5. Why Choose XinChem

• Professionalism: 20+ years in the chemical and specialty dye industry.
• Flexibility: Tailored to customer purity, particle size, color strength, and packaging requirements.
• Cost‑effectiveness: High quality at competitive wholesale pricing.

Contact us now to start cooperation!
Website: www.xinchem.com
Email: sales1@xinchem.com
WhatsApp: +86 18049800532