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Pigment Printing: Hafeezullah Memon Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Hangzhou, China
Pigment Printing: Hafeezullah Memon Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Hangzhou, China
Hafeezullah Memon
Zhejiang Sci-Tech University
Hangzhou, China
Pigment printing:
Pigment printing has gained much importance today and for some fibers (e.g.
cellulose fibers) is by far the most commonly applied technique. Pigments can be used on
almost all types of textile substrates and, thanks to increased performance of modern dyeing
auxiliaries; it is now possible to obtain high-quality printing using this technique. The term
"pigment print" is used generally for any type of printed image that uses strictly pigments.
Pigment printing processes have been utilized since the middle of the 19th century. The
image stability of pigment printing is superior to that of any other method of printing,
including traditional silver-halide or metal-based. Pigment is a substance in particulate from
that is substantially insoluble in a medium but which can be mechanically dispersed in this
medium to modify its color and light – scattering properties. In other words, Pigments are
insoluble coloring matter mostly mineral origin; those have been used for the coloration of
metal wood, stone, and textile material.
Pigments are colors which do not dissolve and penetrate into the fibers. They have not
to be applied together with a film forming binder. More than 50% of all printing colors are
pigment types. It represents an alternative to direct printing. In this system ther e is no need to
carry out a steaming process, as steaming is replaced by polymerization (generally carried out
simultaneously with drying).
This type of printing process is very simple, low-cost and can be carried out easily on
all types of fabrics, particularly on blends, since pigments can adhere to all fibers; there is no
need to use dyes of different color classes. On the other hand, the adhesives, which bind the
pigment to the fabric, can give serious problems when the fabric hand varies. For prints with
a low coverage ratio, the hand variation can be acceptable but it is not when the coverage
ratio is high or at least for all uses. Furthermore, the pigment lies on the surface and has low
fastness to friction (this depends mainly upon the type and quantity of binding agent and
upon the polymerization degree). Some valid alternatives to this type of printing can give
special effects such as printing with swelling agents (generally synthetic polyurethane-base
pastes are used), with covering pigments and glitter (metal powders or particles of plastic
materials) etc.
Fixer
Na
Binder
alginate
Pigment
White
Pigments Printing
Recipe spirit
• 90-100%/110-120°C
Drying
• Sometimes it is omitted
Washing
Uses of Pigment printing is wide range. The garments of the women which are made
by cotton, polyester or viscose blends are printed by pigments if the medium color depths are
needed. Decorative curtain, towels are printed by pigments. Pigment printing also used in bed
linen, aprons, children’s garments, night wear dresses, various cottons and cellulose materials.