Which Procion MX colors are pure, and which mixtures?

Procion MX dyes, which belong to the dichlorotriazine class of fiber reactive dyes, are the most popular type of dye for hand-dyeing plant fibers, such as cellulose. They can also be used on protein-based fibers. See About Fiber Reactive Dyes. Note that not all suppliers can be listed here. Included are enough major suppliers for you to compare most common names, since several suppliers use similar names.

Procion MX colors without MX codes are mixed by the supplier. The ones that have MX codes may be either pure colors, or mixtures prepared by the manufacturer. Be sure that your dye source tells you the MX codes or Colour Index names for those of the Procion MX dyes they sell that have them. (Some suppliers include this info in their printed catalogs, but not their on-line catalogs - be sure to request a printed catalog!)

This page includes four tables:

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These are wide tables! Please use a small font size and use landscape, not portrait, mode, to print, if necessary. Or download a [out of date] printable PDF version of Table 1 below.

NOTE:

If a Procion MX dye color name does not appear in Table 1, it is probably not a pure single-hue dye color, unless it is incorrect; either it is listed under a different MX code, or it is a premixed color, not a true single-hue dye, and is listed on Table 2, Table 3, or Table 4, below.

Table 1. Pure unmixed single-hue Procion MX type (dichlorotriazine) dyes

with links in the MX code names to some chemical structures. See Sources for contact information for the companies listed. Listed in approximate color wheel order. Color swatches are approximate at best and are intended only to give a vague idea of the color.

CODE	Colour Index reactive dye name	Dharma's name	PROchem's name	Custom's name	G&S Dye's name	George Weil's name	Standard's name	Kraft kolour	Aljo Mfg. Co.'s name	Jacquard Products	Patchwork Shop.de	notes
yellow MX-8G	yellow 86	#1 lemon yellow	#108 sun yellow	#104 yellow MX-8G	208 bright yellow	-	yellow MX-8G	Yellow MX8G	#3 lemon yellow	004 lemon yellow	Zitronengelb	pure; good yellow primary for mixing colors
yellow MX-4G	yellow 22	-	#114 lemon yellow	-	214 yellow	M01 lemon yellow	yellow MX-4G	Yellow MX4G	#10 pure yellow	-		pure
yellow MX-GR	yellow 7	#3 golden yellow	#112 tangerine yellow	-	-	-	yellow MX-GR	-		-		being replaced by mixtures?
yellow MX-RA	yellow 44	--	-	-	-	-	-	Yellow MXRA		-	-	pure
yellow MX-3R	orange 86	#4 deep yellow	-	#107 yellow MX-3R	-	M02 golden yellow	-	Yellow MX3R		-	Gelborange	pure; same dye molecule as yellow MX-3RA
yellow MX-3RA	orange 86	-	#104 golden yellow	-	204 golden yellow	-	yellow MX-3RA	-		010 bright golden yellow		pure; denser than 3R
orange MX-G	orange 1	-	-	-	-	-	orange MX-G	-	-	-	-	pure, clear orange
orange MX-2R	orange 4	#6 deep orange	#202 strong orange	#201 orange MX-2R	302 orange	M04 brilliant orange	yellow MX-2R	Orange MX2R	#1 orange	020 brilliant orange	Orange	pure, slightly reddish orange; great for mixing with magenta for a true red
brown MX-GRN	brown 23	-	(#515 burnt orange)	-	(615 brown)	(M03 rust orange)	-	-		(016 rust orange)	(Terrakottabraun)	apparently replaced by mixtures. dull brownish orange good for mixing dark shades
brown MX-5BR	brown 10	--	-	-	-	-	-	Brown MX5BR		(formerly brown rose)	-	pure from Kraftkolour; elsewhere mixture often substituted
scarlet MX-G	red 8	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	no retail source known
red MX-G	red 5	-	-	-	-	M05 orange scarlet	reactive red #5	(mix)		-		pure; not worth the expense; mixes often carry the same MX code
rubine MX-B	red 6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	cerise	-	-	pure; sold by Grateful Dyes as their #14 Cherry or inquire at Aljo Mfg.
red MX-5B	red 2	#12 light red	#305 mixing red	#310 red MX-5B	405 hot pink	M07 brilliant pink	red MX-5B	Red MX5B		034 magenta	Magenta	pure; good magenta for use as primary color
red MX-8B	red 11	#13 fuchsia red	#308 fuchsia	#304 red MX-8B	408 fuchsia	M08 vibrant magenta	red MX-8B	Red MX8B	#4 rose red	040 fuchsia	Pinkrot	pure; good magenta for use as primary color
magenta MX-B	reactive violet #13	-	boysenberry or violet MX-BR	-	-	-	-	Magenta MXB	-	-	-	pure; Colour Index name is only my best guess so far
violet MX-2R	reactive violet #14	#117 grape	grape 801 or violet MX-GN	violet MX-G?	415 Raspberry	-	violet 14 or violet MX-G	Violet MXRA		231 violet	-	pure; note that the name violet MX-G is incorrect though widely used! Custom Colours Violet MX-G is Standard's Permabril Violet C-G, not certain it is reactive violet 14
blue MX-7RX	blue #161	-	-	-	-	cobalt blue (no code)	-	-	no more	-	Blauviolett	pure; lovely but not lightfast. In the US, inquire at Aljo Mfg.
blue MX-R	blue 4	#26 sky blue	#400 basic blue	#416 blue MX-2R	500 royal blue	M22 royal blue	blue MX-R	Blue MXR	#12 ultra-blue	072 medium blue		pure, slightly reddish, somewhat dull blue. Note difference in Custom Colours' MX code
blue MX-2R	blue 84	-	-	-	-	-	-	Deep Blue MX2R		-		formazan chromophore (I haven't seen this one yet)
blue MX-G	blue 163	cerulean blue	#406 intense blue	#406 Blue MX-G	506 Cerulean Blue	M50 cerulean blue	blue MX-G	Blue MXG	#27 peacock blue	070 cerulean blue	Primärblau	pure, good mixing primary, slightly greenish blue
navy MX-3R	blue 9	-	-	#405 navy MX-4G	-	-	blue #9 (green shade) or navy MX-G	Navy MX3R		-		pure, slightly greenish dark navy; note difference in Custom Colours' MX code
blue MX-2G	blue 109	#22 cobalt blue	#402c mixing blue	#415 blue MX-2G	502 slate blue	M21 indigo navy	-	Blue MX2G	#6986 navy	076 cobalt blue 150%		pure, greenish dark navy; greener than cobalt blue glass
blue MX-4GD	blue #168	-	#414 deep navy	-	-	-	-	Blue MX4GD	Aljo carries it	-	Dunkelblau (kalt)	pure, greenish navy
blue MX-3G	blue 1		-	-	-	-	-	-	turquoise #2	-		pure; hard to find
turquoise MX-G	blue 140	#25 turquoise	#410 turquoise	#407 Turquoise MX-G	510 turquoise	M20 brilliant turquoise	turquoise MX-G	Turquoise MXG	#20 brilliant turquoise	068 turquoise	Türkisblau	pure; the best equivalent to cyan as a primary

	CODE	Colour Index reactive dye #	Dharma's name	PROchem's name	Earth Guild's name	G&S Dye's name	George Weil's name	Standard Dye Co.'s name	Aljo	Jacquard Products	Patchwork Shop.de	notes
Table 2. Manufacturers' mixtures of dichlorotriazine dyes with MX codes
Even though the colors listed below have MX codes, they are not pure single-hue dyes, but instead mixtures of two or more other dyes. These mixtures are usually identical even when obtained from different suppliers.
	red MX-BRA	-	#9 scarlet	300 scarlet	-	400 scarlet	-	Scarlet MX-BRA		030 fire engine red		mixture of red MX-5B and orange MX-2R
	red MX-GBA	-	#10a chinese red	#312 strongest red	warm red	412 red	-	Red MX-GBA				mixture
	navy MX-G "red shade" or navy MX-4R	blue 9 "red shade"	130 Strong Navy	-	-	-		blue #9 (red shade)		navy 078		Standard Dye mixture of blue #9 plus red MX-5B
	blue MX-4RD	-	#24 navy blue	-	-	replaced by equivalent mix 512 navy	-	-			marineblau	mixture
	green MX-CBA	-	-	-	forest green	replaced by equivalent mix 800 dark green	-	-	-	086 forest green	-	mixture
	black MX-CWNA	-	#300 new black now replaced by similar mix with same name	#608 black was temporarily replaced by black #609	-	replaced by equivalent mix 708N black	-	-		128 warm black		mixture
	black MX-CWA	-	-	-	black	702 cotton black	-	-			Schwarz 602A	mixture

	CODE	Colour Index reactive dye #	Dharma's name	PROchem's name	Earth Guild's name	G&S Dye's name	George Weil's name	Standard Dye Co.'s name	Jacquard Products	notes
Table 3. Formerly pure dichlorotriazine dyes with MX codes, now replaced with mixtures
Even though the colors listed below have MX codes, they are not pure single-hue dyes, but instead mixtures of two or more other dyes. Do not expect these mixtures to be the same from one supplier to the next.
	brown MX-5BR	formerly brown 10	#36 maroon brown	#505 reddish brown	605 red brown	M29 red brown	brown MX-5BR		126 brown rose	discontinued by manufacturer, replaced by mixtures
	rubine MX-BA	formerly red 6	-	-	-	-	-			Kraftkolour mixture replaced rubine MX-B
	red MX-6BDA	brown 40	-	former #316 burgundy	-	-	replaced by mix 416 burgundy	-	-	discontinued
	red MX-3G	formerly ?	-	-	-	-	M06 scarlet	-	-	mixture
	blue MX-3G	formerly blue 1	-	-	-	-	M26 brilliant blue	-	-	mix replaced blue #1 pure blue 1 still available elsewhere perhaps
	green MX-3G	formerly green 6	-	-	-	-	M23 bottle green	-		mix replaced green# 6

Procion MX type code	other names	Retailer who sells it	Notes
Table 4. Mixtures of dichlorotriazine dyes that have been given non-standard MX codes
Even though the colors listed below have MX codes, they are not pure single-hue dyes, but instead mixtures of two or more other dyes. In some cases, pure single-hue dyes are also available elsewhere under the same code. Be sure to check with your supplier if necessary to specify which you want. Some suppliers, such as Standard, have been known to substitute similar-hued mixtures freely even when a unmixed dye has been ordered by MX code; if this is not acceptable to you, be specific when you order.
scarlet MX-BA	028 bright scarlet	Jacquard Products	mixture
scarlet MX-GR	Scarlet MXGR	Kraftkolour	mixture
red MX-BA	032 carmine red	Jacquard Products	mixture
red MX-6BDA ?	416 burgundy	George Weil	mixture
red MX-3G	M06 scarlet	George Weil	mixture
red MX-BG	Red MXBG	Kraftkolour	mixture
red MX-G	Red MXG	Kraftkolour	mixture
rubine MX-BA	Rubine MXBA	Kraftkolour	mixture
violet MX-DP	violet MX-DP	Standard Dye	mixture
violet MX-2B	Violet MX2B	Kraftkolour	mixture
blue MX-3G	M26 brilliant blue	George Weil	mixture
blue MX-3R	Blue MX3R	Kraftkolour	mixture (not to be confused with Navy MX3R)
navy MX-KB		Standard Dye	mixture
navy MX-3R	blue #9 (red shade)	Standard Dye	mixture
green MX-BD	Green MXBD	Kraftkolour	mixture
lime green MX-G	Lime Green MXG	Kraftkolour	mixture
green MX-G	Green MXG	Kraftkolour	mixture
green MX-G	M25 brilliant emerald	George Weil	mixture
green MX-3G	Green MX3G	Kraftkolour	mixture
green MX-CG		Standard Dye	mixture
green MX-EG		Standard Dye	mixture
green MX-3G	M23 bottle green	George Weil	mixture
green MX-7B	Green MX7B	Kraftkolour	mixture
olive MX-GD		Kraftkolour	mixture
olive MX-G	M28 olive	George Weil	mixture
choc brown MX-2B	Choc Brown MX2B	Kraftkolour	mixture
brown MX-2GA		Kraftkolour	mixture
brown MX-3G	M27 dark brown	George Weil	mixture
brown MX-2GA	Brown MX2GA	Kraftkolour	mixture
brown MX-2R		Kraftkolour	mixture
brown MX-2RA	Brown MX2RA	Kraftkolour	mixture
grey MX-B	Grey MXB	Kraftkolour	mixture
black MX-2R		Kraftkolour	mixture
black MX-K	M30 black	George Weil	mixture
black MX-TDN		Standard Dye	mixture
black MX-2R	Black MX2R	Kraftkolour	mixture
black MX-G	Black MXG	Kraftkolour	mixture
	Black GR 200%	Kraftkolour	hot reactive not Procion

If your Procion MX supplier is one of the ones listed, but you cannot find your dye color in one of the above tables, then you can safely assume that it is a proprietary mixture and not directly equivalent to any dye available anywhere else.

Many more dichlorotriazine dyes exist in the Procion line, but not all are under commercial productions. It seems that there are also some that are manufactured currently, but which do not happen to be supplied to any of the distributers that supply dyes in small enough quantities for a single individual to use.

Which Procion MX colors are pure, and which mixtures?

This page includes four tables:

printing

NOTE:

Table 1. Pure unmixed single-hue Procion MX type (dichlorotriazine) dyes

Table 2. Manufacturers' mixtures of dichlorotriazine dyes with MX codes

Table 3. Formerly pure dichlorotriazine dyes with MX codes, now replaced with mixtures

Table 4. Mixtures of dichlorotriazine dyes that have been given non-standard MX codes