Farbchemie

Farbchemie is a branch of chemistry that studies the production, properties, and applications of color in substances. It covers the mechanisms by which materials absorb, transmit, or reflect light, and how chemical structure—particularly chromophores and auxochromes—determines color.

The field addresses dyes, pigments, and colorants, as well as the processes that enable color to appear on textiles, plastics, inks, foods, and cosmetics. Organic dyes are typically soluble and form color through extended conjugation, while inorganic pigments are often insoluble and color arises from crystalline structures and particle effects. Pigments can be synthetic or natural; dyes may require mordants or binding media to adhere to substrates.

Applications include textile dyeing, printing, coloration of plastics and coatings, as well as colorimetric sensors and indicators. Colorfastness, lightfastness, washing stability, and chemical compatibility are key performance parameters. Measurement relies on spectrophotometry and colorimetry to quantify hue, saturation, and brightness.

Historically, Farbchemie emerged from the use of natural colorants in ancient times, followed by the development of synthetic dyes in the 19th century, such as mauveine discovered by William Henry Perkin, which spurred a rapid expansion of the dye industry. Today the field emphasizes sustainability, exploring eco-friendly dyes, bio-based colorants, and waste-minimizing processes, as well as new color technologies like smart materials and pigment design.

In German-speaking contexts, Farbchemie is often taught as a foundational topic in chemistry, materials science, and textile technology.