Dye sublimation ink is a type of ink that is specifically used for dye sublimation printing. It usually consists of pigments, dispersants, solvents, and other additives. Under high temperature and high pressure conditions, sublimation ink can be directly transformed from solid to gaseous state, and then penetrate into materials such as polyester fibers to form a strong bond with the material. Dye sublimation ink has the advantages of bright color, high saturation, high image resolution, good water resistance and light resistance, etc., and is widely used in clothing, flags, advertising materials, digital images and other fields, and can present high-quality printing effects.
Features ofsublimation inks
1.Color performance: Rich, vivid and bright, can accurately present a kaleidoscopic color, high saturation and contrast, can achieve realistic image effects.
2.Printing accuracy: It can achieve high-resolution printing, clear details, smooth text edges, and delicate images to meet the needs of high-precision printing.
3.Environmental performance: does not contain substances harmful to the human body and the environment, non-toxic and tasteless, and meets environmental protection requirements.
4.Durability: It is firmly combined with the substrate, has good water resistance, light resistance and friction resistance, and is not easy to fade and change color after long-term use.
5.Transfer characteristics: It can be quickly sublimated at high temperature, the transfer efficiency is high, the transfer process is simple, and high-quality transfer printing can be achieved on a variety of materials.
Panorama of sublimation ink industry applications
1.the field of textile and garment
Core advantages: high-temperature transfer technology realizes high-precision printing of polyester fiber, nylon and other fabrics, with bright colors and more than 50 washes, and has both breathability and color fastness.
Typical applications: fast fashion brands personalized customized clothing, sportswear (such as moisture-absorbing and sweat-wicking fabrics), home textile products (curtains, bedding), etc., especially suitable for small batches and multi-style flexible production needs.
2. Advertising and identification industry
Technological breakthrough: UV resistant for 3000 hours without fading, supporting ultra-wide (over 3.2 meters) seamless printing, with 98% color reproduction.
Scene coverage: Outdoor billboards, light box cloth, exhibition background walls, etc., with a service life of 3 times that of traditional inkjet painting, and are widely used in long-term exposure scenarios such as commercial complexes and sports events.
3. Digital imaging
Accuracy benchmark: 1440dpi resolution and 16.7 million color gradation performance, support for photo-level detail, color gamut coverage of 98% Adobe RGB.
Innovative applications: Personalized products such as mobile phone cases, cultural and creative gifts, photo albums, etc., with AI design software to achieve a customized experience of "what you see is what you get".
4.the field of industrial manufacturing
Material revolution: permanent adhesion to more than 20 kinds of materials such as ceramic, metal, ABS plastic, scratch resistance up to 5H, high temperature resistance up to 200°C.
High-end scenes: automotive interior panels, medical device shells, smart home equipment decoration, etc., through the three-dimensional pattern to enhance the premium space of products.
5. Packaging and printing industry
Process upgrading: support curved surface printing and metallic texture effect, gradient transition is natural, to meet the strict requirements of luxury packaging for details.
Environmental breakthrough: The VOC content of water-based formula inks tends to be close to zero, which meets the EU food contact grade certification and is suitable for high value-added packaging such as cosmetics, tobacco and alcohol.
The core benefits of using sublimation inks
1. Excellent environmental performance
Zero pollution emission: no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), zero wastewater in the production process, and carbon emission intensity is reduced by more than 90% compared with traditional processes.
Low-carbon and water-saving: The water consumption is only 1/4 of the traditional process, and it meets the strict environmental protection certifications such as the EU Bluesign® and China Eco-Textiles.
2. Extreme color expression
Wide color gamut coverage: up to 98%, can display 16.7 million color levels, and supports high-precision gradients and detail restoration.
Industry benchmark for color fastness: resistant to more than 50 washes, 3000 hours of outdoor UV exposure without fading, and color durability is 3 times that of traditional processes.
3. Multi-material adaptability
Cross-domain application: Compatible with more than 20 kinds of materials such as polyester fiber, ceramic, metal, plastic, etc., breaking through the limitations of traditional printing materials.
Industrial-grade adhesion: chemical bonding is formed after high-temperature transfer, and the scratch resistance level is up to 5H, which is suitable for high-demand scenarios such as electronics and home decoration.
4. Productivity innovation
Digital direct injection technology: eliminating the plate-making process, the proofing cycle is shortened to 2 hours, and the flexible production of small batches and multiple batches is supported.
Strong equipment compatibility: adapt to intelligent production lines to improve the response speed and market competitiveness of enterprises.
5. Long-term cost optimization
High consumables utilization: transfer rate of over 95%, uncoated paper technology reduces paper costs by 30%.
Low maintenance: Water-based formulations reduce equipment clogging, extend printhead life, and reduce overall cost of ownership by up to 40%.
Analysis of the development prospect of sublimation ink
1.the market demand continues to expand
The global sublimation ink market size is growing steadily, reaching USD 615.92 MN in 2023 and is expected to exceed USD 883.85 MN by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.08%. As the world's largest producer and consumer, China occupies 64.95% of the market share, and the compound growth rate is expected to reach 4.99% in the next six years, far exceeding the European and American markets. Textile, advertising, digital imaging and other fields are in strong demand, especially in clothing printing, outdoor advertising and personalized customization scenes, sublimation ink has become the mainstream choice due to its high color fastness and environmental protection characteristics.
2.technological innovation drives industrial upgrading
Technological breakthrough in uncoated paper: Through the "ink drop suspension technology" to optimize the adhesion of ink on low-gram weight paper, the transfer rate is increased to more than 95%, and the cost is reduced by 30%, promoting the development of thermal transfer printing in the direction of low cost and high efficiency.
Water-based formula iteration: The VOC content of water-based sublimation ink tends to be close to zero, and it has passed the EU environmental protection certification, with a color reproduction degree of 98% and a washing fastness of more than 50 times, gradually replacing solvent-based inks.
The process of equipment localization is accelerating: the gap between the performance of domestic thermal transfer equipment and imports has narrowed, the market share has increased significantly, further reducing the production threshold and promoting the large-scale development of the industry.
3.environmental protection policies and consumption upgrades
Driven by the "dual carbon" goal, sublimation ink has become the core technology of the green transformation of the printing industry with no VOC emissions and low energy consumption. It has a 90% lower carbon intensity and 75% less water consumption than traditional processes, in line with global environmental standards. At the same time, the consumption upgrade has given rise to the demand for personalized customization, and sublimation ink supports small-batch and multi-batch production to meet the flexible needs of fast fashion, cultural and creative products and other fields, and the market penetration rate continues to increase.
4.the application scenarios are diversified and expanded
In the field of industrial manufacturing, the demand for surface decoration of ceramics, metals, and plastics has surged, and sublimation inks have achieved permanent adhesion of patterns, with a scratch resistance level of 5H, enabling the added value of electronic products and household products.
Packaging and printing: high-end cosmetics and luxury packaging use sublimation technology to achieve gradient effect and metal texture, and support curved surface printing, which meets the brand's dual requirements for visual and environmental protection.
Emerging market opportunities: The relocation of the textile industry in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other regions has driven the growth of demand for sublimation inks, and the market share of the Asia-Pacific region is expected to increase to more than 75% by 2025.
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