Textile printing method
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing inkjet textile printing methods face challenges in achieving high fastness of printed images on cloth due to insufficient ink penetration and fixation, particularly on polyester fabrics, leading to unsatisfactory performance under laundering and rubbing.
Innovation Solution
A textile printing method using an ink composition with specific viscosity and surface tension, containing resin fine particles with a glass transition temperature of 0°C or less, applied onto a heated cloth, along with a treatment liquid containing a flocculant, to enhance ink penetration and fixation, ensuring high fastness and stability of the printed images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ink is applied onto cloth using conventional inkjet method, then the printing process is simple, but the ink does not permeate sufficiently into the cloth resulting in poor fastness to laundering and rubbing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by heating the cloth to 40°C or higher before ink application, which modifies the physical state of the cloth surface to enhance ink permeation. Additionally, the ink composition parameters are optimized with specific viscosity (4.5 mPa·s or less at 40°C) and surface tension (28 mN/m or less at 40°C) values, along with controlled resin fine particle content (1-20% by mass), to achieve both sufficient penetration and high fastness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by incorporating resin fine particles into the ink composition. These resin particles serve multiple functions: they facilitate ink penetration into the cloth, act as binding agents to fix the ink, and improve overall fastness. The combination of pigment, resin fine particles, dispersant, and solvent creates a composite ink system that achieves both penetration and fixation.
2Reliability
If ink composition with low viscosity is used to improve penetration, then ink spreads better, but ink ejection stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction through precise parameter control of the ink composition. The viscosity is maintained at 4.5 mPa·s or less at 40°C (achieved through temperature control and solvent selection), while ejection stability is preserved by controlling the resin fine particle content within 1-20% by mass and adjusting surface tension to 28 mN/m or less. This balanced parameter optimization allows both good spreading and stable ejection.
3Reliability
If resin content in ink is increased to improve fixation, then fastness improves, but ink ejection becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the resin fine particle content to a specific range of 1-20% by mass in the ink composition. This controlled amount provides sufficient fixation and fastness improvement while maintaining ink ejection stability. The resin particles act as effective binding agents at this optimized concentration, achieving the desired balance between fixation strength and ejection performance.
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 results in printed articles with improved leveling, high fastness to rubbing and laundering, and stable ejection of the ink composition, even on polyester fabrics, by ensuring proper ink penetration and fixation.
Implementation Method 1
ink is applied onto a heated cloth by being ejected through a nozzle of an ink jet head, thus forming an ink coating on the cloth
Implementation Method 2
applying the ink composition onto the heated cloth, the ink composition can be readily dried
Implementation Method 3
The resin fine particles may have a glass transition temperature of 0°C or less, wherein the glass transition temperature is the value measured with a differential scanning colorimeter
Data Source
AI summary
A textile printing method includes heating a cloth, and applying an ink composition onto the heated cloth by ejecting the ink composition from an ink jet head. The ink composition contains resin fine particles and has a viscosity of 4.5 mPa·s or less at 40°C and a surface tension of 28 mN/m or less at 40°C.