Phosphine is an older synthetic acridine dye, chemically known as chrysaniline, historically used in the textile industry to impart bright yellow and orange hues. It was primarily applied to cotton, silk, and leather goods. Because it is a basic dye, it requires a mordant like tannin to fix properly to cellulosic fibers, though it has largely been superseded by more colorfast reactive and disperse dyes.
Heard on the job
The archivist noted that the vivid orange in the antique silk lining was likely achieved using phosphine.
Also heard as
- chrysaniline