There are important steps to follow to ensure a quality image when digitally printing on textiles. One of the most important is pre-treating fabric with chemistry designed to offer desired end-use performance that cannot be achieved by the ink and fabric alone.
Of the different types of colorant used in digital textile printing ink, pigment has been the slowest to be adopted in the industry partly because it’s the only colorant that requires a physical bond with the fabric using a polymer (binder) to act as a sort of ‘glue’. The other methods are based on dye technology which chemically binds to the fabric. The downside of this is that it makes dye-based inks fabric specific and, in addition, these dye-based technologies don’t have as good a light-fastness as pigment based inks. As an example, outdoor furniture can significantly benefit from a pigment ink because it has the most resistance to UV light.
Performance Requirements of Textile Pre-Treatments for Pigment-Based Inks
There are some key performance requirements that any pre-treatment must meet in order enable the most benefits from pigment-based ink systems:
- First, the fabric must maintain its 'hand', which is essentially the feel of the original fabric. Printing can make a textile feel rough, stiff or “boardy.” So, the pre-treatment must have minimal effect on the hand
- Secondly, the pre-treat process holds the colorant at the surface and in this way optimizes color strength and print quality. However, holding the ink on the surface of the surface of fabrics can make rub fastness a challenge. Rub resistance, or ‘crock resistance,’ is measured by assessing the color transfer onto white fabric when rubbed back and forth against a printed surface for a set number of times under a given weight. Crock is measured in a range of grades from 1-5 and should be high. Manufacturers target a minimum of grade 3, but usually aim for 4+. If pre-treating doesn’t do all the work necessary, some suppliers implement a post treatment, but this adds cost and lead time, which defeats one of the big advantages of digital printing and its shorter lead times.
- Thirdly, to achieve desired performance, pre-treating fabrics requires matching the substrate and ink, and that requires different chemical approaches. At Lubrizol, we create textile pre-treatment solutions for each of the four fabric types—cotton, polyester, cotton/polyester, and other synthetics.
- Finally, ink is another consideration. All inks aren’t designed the same. Some are more robust for durability; some for color. The pretreatment needs to be able to accommodate all types of ink.
Pre-Treatment Application
Application methods are also important to get the right result. Padding (dip and squeeze) is the most common application method. Other new methods are being developed, such as spray, foam and jetting. These methods are designed to use less pretreat and only where needed.
So, when considering pre-treating fabric for digital pigment based printing, it’s important to work with a partner who can help you make the right choices and that is adept in understanding global regulations that affect the textile print industry.
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