Digital textile printing inks are mainly of the following types:
1. Reactive inks:
• Applicable fabrics: Mainly used for printing natural fiber fabrics such as cotton, linen, silk, and wool. The printing effect on these fabrics is excellent, especially on cotton fabrics.
• Features: The molecular structure of the reactive ink contains active groups that can react chemically with the fiber. During the printing process, these active groups form covalent bonds with the fiber molecules, making the color fastness of the printing very high, including excellent properties such as water resistance and friction resistance. Moreover, the reactive ink can present bright and rich colors, with strong color layering and delicate patterns. However, the process of reactive printing is relatively complicated, requiring multiple processes such as sizing, printing, steaming, washing, stretching, and finishing, and strict requirements on process conditions.
2. Acid inks:
• Applicable fabrics: Applicable to protein fiber fabrics such as wool and silk, as well as synthetic fiber fabrics such as nylon. These fabrics usually have good hygroscopicity and are suitable for the application of acid inks.
• Features: Acid inks are highly acidic, and there are hydrophilic molecules in their molecular structure. During the printing process, acid ink can react with amino groups and other groups in the fiber to achieve a good coloring effect. Acid ink has high color vividness and a complete color spectrum, which can meet the printing needs of various complex patterns and fine patterns. However, acid ink has a certain corrosiveness, and has high requirements for equipment and operators, and corresponding protective measures need to be taken.
3. Disperse ink:
• Applicable fabrics: Commonly used for printing synthetic fiber fabrics such as polyester fiber. The chemical structure of polyester fiber is relatively tight, and ordinary ink is difficult to penetrate and color, while disperse ink can be evenly dispersed on the fiber surface to achieve a good printing effect.
• Features: Disperse ink has good color fastness and performs well in light resistance and heat resistance. The printed pattern has high clarity and high color vividness. However, disperse ink needs to pre-treat the fabric before printing to improve the adhesion and permeability of the ink.
4. Sublimation ink:
• Applicable fabrics: Suitable for specially treated chemical fiber fabrics or transfer paper.
• Features: Sublimation ink is solid at room temperature. When heated to a certain temperature, the dye in the ink will sublimate into gas, and then penetrate into the fiber to achieve printing. The printing of this ink is bright in color, clear in pattern, and has good washability and wear resistance. The process of sublimation printing is relatively simple and does not require complex post-processing procedures, but requires the use of special sublimation printers and transfer equipment.
5. Paint ink:
• Applicable fabrics: It is suitable for almost all types of fiber fabrics, including cotton, linen, silk, wool, polyester, etc.
• Features: Paint ink is an aqueous dispersion system composed of pigment particles, adhesives, dispersants, etc. Compared with other types of inks, the process of paint ink is relatively simple, and does not require complex chemical reactions. It only needs to print the ink directly on the fabric, and then complete the printing through processes such as drying. Paint ink has high color saturation and strong covering power, and can achieve good printing effects on dark fabrics. However, paint ink feels relatively hard, has poor air permeability, and may not have the same color fastness as active inks and acid inks.