Pre-Treatment Liquid Formulation for Polyamide Textile Inkjet Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital inkjet printing on polyamide or polyester textiles faces challenges such as poor fixation, color bleeding, washout, and high ink consumption due to the high pH of traditional inks, which leads to insufficient water and abrasion resistance, and difficulty in penetration into 3D structured carpets.
Innovation Solution
A pre-treatment liquid is developed by mixing synthetic and natural thickeners with water and adjusting the pH to a range of 2.5 to 7, optionally adding ammonium sulphate, to create a stable solution that allows for efficient ink fixation and reduced ink usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional high pH inks are used for digital inkjet printing on polyamide or polyester textiles, then the printing process can be performed with conventional inks, but the fixation is poor leading to color bleeding, washout, and fading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a pre-treatment liquid to the textile before printing with high pH inks. This preliminary action modifies the textile surface to be more receptive to high pH inks, enabling proper fixation without color bleeding or washout issues that would normally occur with conventional inks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the ink from conventional levels to high pH (above 7). This parameter change, when combined with the pre-treatment, fundamentally alters how the ink interacts with the textile, achieving superior fixation and eliminating harmful effects like color fading and washout.
2Productivity
If old print technologies are used, then printing can be performed, but a large amount of ink is consumed (pick-up of 100 to 1000% of yarn weight)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the ink to high pH levels and applies a pre-treatment liquid, which together dramatically improve ink fixation efficiency. This reduces ink consumption from 100-1000% of yarn weight to much lower levels, eliminating waste while maintaining productivity.
3Ease of operation
If high pH inks are used without pre-treatment, then conventional printing can be performed, but penetration into 3D structured carpets is insufficient due to pile height
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-treatment liquid is applied to the 3D structured carpet before printing, preparing the pile structure to accept and retain high pH inks. This preliminary action enables proper penetration into the deep pile structure, achieving uniform color distribution and fixation throughout the carpet thickness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The pre-treatment method improves ink fixation, reduces ink consumption, and enhances the quality and stability of printed textiles by ensuring better wetting and penetration, resulting in high-resolution prints with minimal color bleeding and fading.
Implementation Method 1
adding a thickener (preferably a synthetic thickener) to water to form a mixture of thickener in water
Implementation Method 2
adding an acid until the pooled mixture has a pH from min. 2.5 to max. 7
Implementation Method 3
adding ammonium sulphate, preferably until the pooled mixture comprises min. 0.001 to max. 0.1 kg/I ammonium sulphate
Data Source
AI summary
Method for preparing a pre-treatment liquid. A pre-treatment liquid, a pre-treated material, and a method for applying a pattern on a pre-treated material are also provided. The pre-treatment liquid is made by a method that comprises preparing a first mixture and a second mixture. The first mixture and the second mixture are then mixed together and further processed to form a pre-treatment liquid.