The World War I crisis that turned color into a national security threat

"One early synthetic dye, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, yielded a lovely yellow color; we know it today by its shorthand, TNT. Many of the chemical catalysts and intermediates that were used to create commercially popular dyes like sulfur black and crystal violet also made great explosives."

"When war broke out and it was clear that there'd be no more German dyes for import, America scrambled and bought German dye reserves from China and India, but by 1915 they were gone."

"The dearth of commercial colors affected so many industries that it could cost the American economy $5 billion, or about $1.4 trillion in modern moolah. It was so severe, it even got its own sound-bitable name: the Dye Famine."

Synthetic dye manufacture involves advanced chemistry and has historical connections to explosives. The early synthetic dye TNT produced a yellow color. During World War I, Germany converted dye works into munitions plants. The U.S. faced economic challenges due to the loss of imported German dyes, leading to a scramble for alternatives. The shortage, termed the Dye Famine, threatened various industries and was projected to cost the U.S. economy $5 billion, equivalent to $1.4 trillion today. Efforts to promote American dyes were hindered by commercial realities.

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