Experimental Study on Fabric Inkjet Printing and Its Ink System (in)

3. Technical requirements for inkjet printing ink systems

Inkjet printing is a new technology for fabric printing. It has reached a consensus in the dyeing and finishing industry, especially when it requires short-flow, small-volume, multi-variety, fast-delivery production. As long as the printing speed and reliability are basically solved, some improvements in the printing industry's hardware and software can be applied to fabric printing. However, due to the variety of fiber types and fabric varieties, especially the color fastness and feel requirements of printed fabrics are significantly different from those of paper prints, the ink formulations used for paper printing are not suitable for textiles, thus requiring the development of many different properties. Ink system. So far, although there is no standard ink formulation that is universally applicable for inkjet printing of fabrics, there is a demand for the viscosity, surface tension, uniformity, particle size, droplet shape, and stability of ink liquids. There are strict restrictions. In addition, different printing processes also require high temperature resistance and conductivity of the ink.

Basic work shows that the basic requirements and functions of the ink systems listed in Table 1 should be met.

Table 1 ink jet printing ink system

Composition requirements

Performance request

Functional requirements

Pigments < Dyes or Pigments )

Carrier ( binder or resin )

Viscosity modifier

Anti-blocking agents and stabilizers

pH regulator

other  

Viscosity

Surface Tension

Conductivity

pH value

proportion

Pigment content and purity

Equipment compatibility

Stable drop shape

Particle size and its distribution

No nozzle and circuit blockage

No biological growth and low corrosion

Long storage period

For fabric ink jet printing ink systems, the following technical scope has general guidance.

Viscosity, cP < 10

Surface tension, mN·m-` >40

The smaller the particle size, the better the micron emulsion is.

Post-treatment process using only hot bake or UV polymerization

Pigment Type Dyes, Modified Dyes, and Colors

Dry fastness, grade >4 (AATCC test method)

Wet rub fastness, grade >3.5 (AATCC test method)

Printed product feel changes minimal

Fiber type adaptability

High color rate

low cost

4. Inkjet printing ink system application test

4. 1 Polymeric Ink System Test

By spraying the monomer or oligomer mixture of the formulated ink system onto the fabric and then polymerizing it at the fabric pattern, the viscosity of the ink jet system can be greatly reduced to meet the printing requirements.