Textile Ink Fluid Set for Washfast Printing on Synthetic Fabrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aqueous pigmented inkjet inks struggle to adhere to synthetic fabrics like polyester, leading to color removal by abrasion and washing, and printing on color-dyed synthetic fabrics results in poor image quality due to dye migration during high-temperature curing.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printing method involving a pre-treatment composition with a multivalent cation and/or acid, followed by jetting a clear ink with a polymeric binder and a white ink, which acts as an adhesive and dye-blocking layer, to enhance ink fixation and durability on textiles without stiffening the fabric.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pre-treatment solution containing polymer is applied to achieve washfastness, then adhesion and washfastness are improved, but the fabric loses elasticity, stretchiness and soft hand-feel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the polymer component from the pre-treatment solution, extracting only the necessary salt of multivalent cation and acid components. This extraction eliminates the harmful stiffening effect while preserving the washfastness improvement through alternative mechanisms (clear ink as adhesive layer, dye-blocking functionality).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the pre-treatment solution by replacing polymer-based adhesion mechanisms with salt and acid-based treatment. This parameter change allows the fabric to maintain its elastic properties while still achieving improved ink fixation and washfastness through the clear ink layer.
2Reliability
If high temperature curing is applied to fix inks, then ink fixation and durability are improved, but disperse dye migrates to the white ink layer causing discoloring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a pre-treatment solution containing salt of multivalent cation and/or acid before ink application. This preliminary action modifies the fabric surface to create a barrier that prevents disperse dye migration during subsequent high-temperature curing, while still allowing proper ink fixation. The clear ink layer further reinforces this barrier function.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-treatment solution acts as an intermediary layer between the fabric and the ink layers. It mediates the interaction by preventing direct contact between migrating disperse dye and the white ink layer, thus blocking the harmful dye migration effect while maintaining ink fixation through the clear adhesive layer.
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 method achieves higher color durability and retention of fabric elasticity, improving washfastness and image quality on synthetic textiles without increasing stiffness.
Implementation Method 1
apply a pre-treatment composition comprising a salt of a multivalent cation and/or an acid
Implementation Method 2
applying by jetting a clear ink comprising a polymeric binder
Implementation Method 3
a clear ink functioning as an adhesive and dye blocking layer for colored inks
Implementation Method 4
Migration of the disperse dye on the fabric to the white ink layer during high temperature curing of the white and color inks
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an ink fluid set containing an aqueous pre-treatment composition, a clear ink, and colored aqueous inkjet inks. This ink fluid set is particularly suitable for printing on polyester, cotton, and blends of cotton and synthetic textiles.