Thickening compositions for textile printing paste
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Textile printing pastes with reactive dyes face issues with thickeners like alginate, which are costly and prone to gelification, and synthetic polymers that affect washability, while oil-based thickening compositions suffer from stability and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
An oil-free thickening composition comprising carboxymethyl cellulose with a high degree of substitution (1.6 to 3.0) and a thickener obtained by polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, providing improved printability and color strength without worsening fabric washability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carboxymethyl cellulose with low degree of substitution (0.6-1.2) is used as thickener, then the paste shows good solubility and rheological properties, but it rapidly loses rheological properties due to gelification induced by interaction with reactive dyes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by increasing the degree of substitution (DS) of carboxymethyl cellulose from the conventional 0.6-1.2 to a high DS of 2.0-3.0. This parameter change modifies the chemical structure to reduce the interaction between CMC and reactive dyes, thereby preventing gelification and maintaining stable rheological properties throughout the printing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive and unreliable natural polymers like alginate with a more stable CMC formulation. While CMC is a different material, the high DS version provides consistent performance without the gelification issues, effectively making the thickening system more reliable and cost-effective for industrial applications.
2Manufacturing precision
If synthetic polymers like polyacrylates are used as thickeners, then printability is improved, but washability of the treated fabric deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces synthetic polymers like polyacrylates with carboxymethyl cellulose, a cellulosic derivative that is biodegradable and environmentally friendly. This substitution maintains printability while eliminating the washability deterioration and environmental persistence issues associated with synthetic polymers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical nature of the thickener from synthetic polymer to modified cellulose with high degree of substitution. This parameter change in material composition achieves comparable printability while improving fabric washability and reducing environmental impact.
3Manufacturing precision
If alginate is used as thickener, then good color yield and printing definition are achieved, but cost increases and supply becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive and supply-unstable alginate with carboxymethyl cellulose, which is derived from abundant cellulose sources. This substitution maintains good printing definition while significantly reducing cost and improving supply stability, making the thickening system more viable for industrial-scale textile printing.
4Productivity
If oil-based thickening compositions are used, then thickening efficiency is improved, but stability decreases and environmental risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces oil-based thickeners with water-based carboxymethyl cellulose formulations. This substitution eliminates environmental contamination risks associated with oil disposal while maintaining effective thickening efficiency, creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly textile printing process.
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 composition enhances printability and color strength of textiles, maintaining fabric quality and reducing environmental risks associated with oil-based systems.
Implementation Method 1
The main function of thickeners is to provide the paste with suitable rheological properties in order to allow a better control in the design pattern reproduction onto the textile material
Implementation Method 2
a thickener obtained by polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to thickening compositions in solid form comprising a carboxymethyl cellulose with high degree of substitution and a thickener obtained by polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers and their use in textile printing pastes based on reactive dyes.