Griffin Dyeworks & Fiber Arts

Understanding Mordants and Modifiers

Aluminum Ammonium Sulfate

ALUMINUM AMMONIUM SULFATE: AlH4NO8S2

Description: Acid mordant, colorless crystalline granules or flakes, created from sulfuric acid on refined bauxite; also a natural salt found in salt mines, in lichens; maybe have been the "alum" used on medieval manuscripts; officially named 1812.
Other Names: Alum ammonium dodecahydrate, aluminum ammonia disulfate, ammonium alum garden alum, burnt ammonium alum, exsiccated ammonium alum, pickling alum, sulfuric acid of aluminum ammonium salt dodecohydrate
Dye Use: Better for cellulose mordanting than alum
Best On: Cellulose fibers
Dye Recipe: Use ATA recipe under alum, using 2 1/2 tbsp aluminum sulfate
Safety: Can turn into sulfuric acid with heat, dust can cause eye and throat irritation, potential physical damage
Disposal: Dilute considerably and pour down toilet
Alternative: Alum, Aluminum acetate
Source: Griffin Dyeworks

CODES: c = cup; gal = gallon; lb = pound (weight); tbsp = Tablespoon; tsp = teaspoon / [AF] Anglo-French; [Ar] Arabic; [AS] Anglo-Saxon; [Dan] Danish; [Du] Dutch; [Fr] French; [Ger] German; [Gk] Greek; [It] Italian; [L] Classical Latin; [LL] Late Latin; [ME] Middle English; [ML] Modern Latin; [OE] Old English; [OF] Old French; [ON] Old Norse; [OS] Old Saxon; [Port] Portuguese; [Sp] Spanish; [Sw] Swedish / CE = Common Era; BCE = Before Common Era

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