Fabric Digital Inkjet Printer

Fabric Digital Inkjet Printer
– Let's get to the basics!
Textile printing with a digital inkjet printer is a multi-step process compared to printing on materials such as paper or vinyl. Fabrics undergo various processing steps before high-quality prints are made on them using digital inkjet printers. By understanding the basics of inkjet fabric printing like process, equipment, science behind it, it can produce amazing prints and can become a profitable business.

Types of fibers and chemistry involved
The basics of inkjet printing on fabrics require a basic understanding of the chemistry involved in the process. There is no single type of ink that can print on all fibers in a one-step process. We should understand how different fibers interact with different ink types.

Inks commonly used for inkjet printing on fabrics:
pigment
reactivity
acid
dispersion

Which ink to use depends on the material of the fabric. It is the chemical reaction between the fiber type and the ink that produces the color on the fabric that withstands wear, washing and light. Reactive dye inks are suitable for all cellulose fibers and silks. Pigment-dye inks work with any fiber or combination of fibers and are therefore ideal for use with polyester-cotton or polyester-viscose blends. For polyester only, disperse dye inks are suitable. For nylon, acid dye ink should be used. Acid inks also produce brilliant colors on natural silk.

Pretreatment of RFD fabrics with chemicals is a must for direct-to-fabric type digital printing. Although some pigment ink manufacturers claim to produce good results without chemical pretreatment. Pretreatment makes the fabric more receptive to digital printing in terms of print quality and durability. Today, it is also possible to purchase pre-coated fabrics, eliminating one step in the fabric printing process. However, for larger businesses, it is more feasible to have their own pre-coating machines.

Textile Printing Equipment

Organize equipment and processes
To achieve color fastness, each dye type must follow specific handling protocols after being printed on fabric using digital or conventional printers. For example, for nylon fabrics, the steps involved are as follows:

Receive acidic inks, pretreat fabrics with specific chemicals
Print fabric with a compatible inkjet printer
To better set the ink, steam the fabric using a traditional steamer
Wash fabrics to remove pretreatment chemicals and excess ink

The process of printing with reactive inks and disperse inks is similar, but the process parameters and sometimes equipment specifications are different.

puzzle
For a hassle-free and profitable business, the first step is to identify the intended application. This will further define the printer, ink and process.

Depending on the intended application, fabric selection becomes critical. Cotton and polyester fabrics are in high demand for certain applications such as fashion apparel. This affects the choice of ink, process and inkjet printer type for the desired fabric.