mordant

(noun)

Any substance used to facilitate the fixing of a dye to a fiber; usually a metallic compound which reacts with the dye using chelation.

Related Terms

Examples of mordant in the following topics:

  • General Staining Methods

    • Many dyes, however, require the use of a mordant -- a chemical compound that reacts with the stain to form an insoluble colored precipitate.
    • When the excess dye solution is washed away, the mordanted stain remains.

  • Textiles of the Inca

    • Colored dyes were created from plants containing tannin, mole, or walnut; these dyes also came from animals like the cochineal and minerals like clay, ferruginosa, and mordant aluminum.

  • Etching

    • Etching is a type of intaglio printmaking technique that uses strong acid or mordant to cut into unprotected parts of a metal surface.
    • When the design is finished, the plate is then dipped in a bath of acid, technically called the 'mordant' (which is French for 'biting'), or has acid washed over it.