Assignment On "Pigment Printing": Dept. of Textile Engineering
Assignment On "Pigment Printing": Dept. of Textile Engineering
of Textile Engineering
Name Id
3.Pigment:
Pigments are insoluble coloring matter mostly organic and inorganic (mineral origin) have been
used for the coloration of metal wood, stone, and textile material. Pigments have no direct
affinity to textile fibers. They are fixed on textile materials with the help of a binding agent in
form of a thin invisible coating.
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3.1.Classification of Pigment :
Pigments are two types. These are:
Organic Inorganic
4.Textile Printing:
The word of “printing” has derived from a Latin word which means “pressing “. It implies a
process that uses pressure. Textile printing is one kind of localized dyeing where dyes or
pigments & chemical applied by any method which can produce a particular effect of color on
fabric according to design. In a word, Applying colored patterns and designs to decorate a
finished fabric is called ‘Printing’. In a proper printed fabric, the color is affixed to the fiber or
fibre surface (pigment) so that it may not be affected by washing and friction or any other means.
It’s a combination of art, engineering & dyeing.
4.1.Classification of printing:
Printing can simply be classified according to technique, fibre type and dye class:
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As, Chart Describes major portion of textile printing is covered by Pigment Printing so it
becomes an important topic to discuss.
To print on different substrates different chemistry is required for example printing on
natural cellulose is majorly done with reactive dyes.
Polyester is printed with disperse dyes.
Cotton is printed with sulfur dyes.
But, Pigment printing can be applied to various type of fibers like Cotton, Polyester,
Blend PC, Polyamide and many more.
transfer printing).
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substrates and, thanks to increased performance of modern auxiliaries, it is now possible to
obtain high-quality printing using this technique.
Pigment printing pastes contain a thickening agent, a binder and, if necessary, other
auxiliaries such as fixing agents, plasticizers, defoamers, etc.
White spirit-based emulsions, used in the past as thickening systems, are used only
occasionally today (mainly half-emulsion thickeners).
After applying the printing paste, the fabric is dried and then the pigment is normally
fixed with hot air (depending on the type of binder in the formulation, fixation can also
be achieved by storage at 20°C for a few days).
The advantage of pigment printing is that the process can be done without subsequent
washing (which, in turn, is needed for most of the other printing techniques).
Pre-Treatments
Drying(90-100%/110-120°C)
(Dryer)
Curing
(Cotton 140-160°C/110-120°C 3-5min)
(Polyester 160-220°C 30-60s)
(Stenter)
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softner 10-20 parts (optional)
urea 10-20 parts (optional )
Total 1000
Pigment colour Depending on depth of shade
Fixer just before printing 10-20 parts/kg
5.2.1.Pigment dispersion:
Specific pigments are treated in a grinding mill in the presence of suitable non-ionic surfactants.
A particle size of 0.1-3 μm is typical. Generally, the pigment pastes are aqueous based and
contain the dispersing agen Most of the pigments used in textile printing are synthetic organic
materials except for carbon black, TiO2 and white pigments, copper and aluminum alloy. When
choosing synthetic pigments the principle brilliance and the coloring power of the pigments
should be taken into consideration. Organic pigments must used:
Large number of aggregates and agglomerates formed during drying and pulverizing
process of formed pigment press cake.
To obtain better gloss, rheological properties and color strength of pigment applications
need pigment in dispersion .
Size of aggregates and agglomerates is reduced from 10-60 micron to below 1 micron1
5.2.1.1.Dispersion Process:
Size Reduction: Breaking of larger aggregates and agglomerates into smaller primary
particles by impact and shear force
Wetting Process: Uniform spreading of liquid medium on the pigment surface making a
medium on the pigment surface making a contact angle of zero degree. Proper wetting
contact angle of zero degree. Proper wetting improves gloss.
Stabilization: Dispersed particles are prevented to come together.
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5.2.1.2.Dispersing Equipment:
Small particle size may cause a low colour yield besides clogging of screens and may
also entail thixotropic propensity of print pastes.. Wash fastness may be inferior since the
pigment particles may not be held properly in the layer of binder film.
For instance, 40g/kg shade using a pigment dispersion having a particle size of 0.1
micron and binder of 0.3 micron, since these particle micron, since these particles are not
held appropriately in the binder film, the wash particles are the wash fastness may be
affected. ,the pigments are liable to bleed on washing e.g. Pigment Red 2 with a lower
particle size. Red and Bordeaux pigments have a tendency. to bleed on washing.
Large particle size may entail dull prints.
High viscosity of pigment dispersions may not only lead to thicker dispersions may not
only lead to thicker print pastes but also cause inadequate penetration during printing on
the substrate.
5.2.2. Binders:
Binders plays key role in pigment printing. Binder are monomers which on heating get converted
into polymers. Just by simple heating, no pressure, no steaming, no electricity.
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Binders{Monomer}----Heat---> Plasticizer/Plastic{Polymer}. Binders form plastic but, its too soft
and transparent that it’s difficult to see it but we can feel its harshness on the fabric. That’s why
pigment printed fabric have more harshness when compared to other printing techniques. Binder
actually hold the pigment color and sandwich it between fabric surface and plastic coating and this
coating help color to stick there and stand with high and severe conditions. In addition to binder
another component is also added to the textile pigment printing paste and that is called fixer. Fixers
are mostly formaldehyde based, which helps in strengthening of binder to hold on pigment. Here
are some binders given below.
Monomer Tg(⸰C)
Ethylene -125
Butadiene -78
Butyl acrylate -52
Ethyle acrylate -22
Vinyl acetate +30
Vinyl chloride +80
Methyl methacrylate +105
Styrene / acrylonitrile +105/130
There are two types of binders , Not self-cross linking and Self-cross linking (reactive side
groups)
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SBR Binders-Butadiene monomer provides elasticity ,while styrene and acrylonitrile
give oil and solvent resistance Disadvantages are oxidation and discoloration due to
residual double bonds.
Smaller the particle size of the binder results in brighter prints as total internal reflection
increases .
Bigger particle size binder may increase coverage but prints may look duller.
Very small particle size will lead of clogging of screens because of clogging of screens
because of agglomeration
Water-in-oil emulsions were widely used in the past as thickeners. They contained up to 70 % of
white spirit (mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons with C12-C50 chain length), which resulted in
emissions of volatile organic carbon in the exhaust air from drying and curing ovens. Half-
emulsion printing pastes (oil in water) are only occasionally employed today. Nevertheless,
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modern thickeners can still contain approximately 10 % of mineral oils, which are ultimately
found in exhaust air. New generation thickeners have been developed which do not contain any
volatile solvents. They are supplied in the form of non-dusting granules [64, BASF, 1994].
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high reactivity - hot fixing / blocked
5.2.5. Plasticisers:
Plasticisers are mainly silicones or fatty acid esters, which are used to improve the dry rubbing
fastness and give a smooth dry handle to the fabric.
5.2.6. Emulsifiers:
In high- and low solvent pigment printing pastes, the emulsifiers serve to stabilise the solvent
(white spirit). In solvent-free pigment printing they are used to prevent agglomeration of the
pigment, screen blocking and separation of components of the print paste [186, Ullmann's,
2000]. Non-ionic surfactants such as aryl- and alkyl polyglycol ethers are the most commonly
used for this purpose.
6.Printing Methods:
A decorative pattern or design is usually applied to constructed fabric by:
a. Screen printing method
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The screen printing process uses a porous mesh stretched tightly over a frame made of wood
For each color in the print design, a separate screen must be constructed or engraved.
The modern flat-bed screen-printing machine consists of an in- feed device, a glue trough, a
rotating continuous flat rubber blanket, flat-bed print table harnesses to lift and lower the flat
screens, and a double-blade squeegee trough.
The in-feed device allows for precise straight feeding of the textile fabric onto the rubber
blanket.
As the cloth is fed to the machine, it is lightly glued to the blanket to prevent any shifting of
fabric or distortion during the printing process.
The blanket carries the fabric under the screens, which are in the raised position. Once under
the screens, the fabric stops, the screens are lowered, and an automatic squeegee trough moves
across each screen, pushing print paste through
Remember, there is one screen for each color in the pattern.
The screens are raised, the blanket precisely moves the fabric to the next color, and the process
is repeated.
Once each color has been applied, the fabric is removed from the blanket and then processed
through the required fixation process.
The rubber blanket is continuously washed, dried, and rotated back to the fabric in-feed area.
-bed screen process is a semi-continuous, start-stop operation. Flat screen machines
are used today mostly in printing terry towels.
Can produce as many as 25,000 impressions without significant degradation of the image.
The process is slow with production speeds in the range of 15-25 yards per minute.
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6.3.Rotary Screen Printing
Rotary screen printing is so named because it uses a cylindrical screen that rotates in a
fixed position rather than a flat screen that is raised and lowered over the same print
location.
Rotary presses place the squeegee within the screen. These machines are designed for
roll-to-roll printing on fabric ranging from narrow to wide-format textiles.
In rotary printing, the fabric travels at a consistent speed between the screen and a steel
or rubber impression roller immediately below the screen. (The impression roller serves
the same function as the press bed on a flatbed press.)
As the fabric passes through the rotary unit, the screen spins at a rate that identically
matches the speed of substrate movement.
The squeegee on a rotary press is in a fixed position with its edge making contact with
the inside surface of the screen precisely at the point where the screen, substrate, and
impression roller come together .
Ink is automatically fed into the center of the screen and collects in a wedge-shaped
“well” formed by the leading side of the squeegee and the screen’s interior surface.
The motion of the screen causes this bead of ink to roll, which forces ink into stencil
openings, essentially flooding the screen without requiring a floodbar.
The squeegee then shears the ink as the stencil and substrate come into contact, allowing
the ink to transfer cleanly to the material.
By converting the screen-printing process from semi-continuous to continuous, higher
production speeds are obtained than in flat bed printing. Typical speeds are from 50-120
yards per minute
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6.4. Roller Printing:
Roller Printing also called engrave roller printing. It is a modern continuous printing technique.
In this method, a heavy copper cylinder (roller) is engraved with the print design by carving the
design into the copper. Copper is soft, so once the design is engraved, the roller is electroplated
with chrome for durability. This printing technique developed in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries. Until the development of rotary screen printing; it was the only continuous technique.
Designs with up to 16 colors present no problem in Roller Printing.
The advantage of pigment printing is that the process can be done without subsequent
washing.
Simple Application
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Simple technical process without wet after treatment
Little requirements for machinery equipment
Pigment printing can be applied to all substrate which are of interest to the printer,
including glass fibers, PVC and imitation leather, subject to some limitations in color
depth. It is extremely well suited for color resist effects, for example under azoic and
reactive dyes.
Handling properties of the pigment printing is rough because of having excessive cross
linking agents.
Creates problem on the roller printing because of the bulky products and more engraved
rollers.
It is not possible to apply it directly on the fabric. Binder must be used to apply the
pigment dye on the fabric. Thus, a coat is created on the surface of the fabric.
During second time printing it has very low effect that is not desirable..
Wet and rubbing fastness is average.
9.Application of Pigment Printing:
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.
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10.General Problem Find In Pigment Printing:
Symptoms Diagnosis Cure
1. Uncontrollable amount of
Pigment Agglomeration Pigment. Reduce the excessive amount
of thickener.
2. High viscosity.
Poor definition / Appearance 1. Due to the use of duller 1. Use brightener pigments.
pigment selection.
2. Lower rheology of the paste. 2. Select appropriate rheology
modifier and its amount.
Screen Chocking 1. High viscosity of printing 1. Decrease the amount of
paste. thickener.
2. Poor binder stability. 2. Check the strength and
quality of binder.
3. pH variation. 3. Check the pH of the paste, it
should be in alkaline medium.
Poor light fastness 1. Low light-fastness pigment. 1. Select appropriate pigment.
Low tinctorial Value Large particle size of pigment. Use small particle size of
pigment.
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Flushing Low viscosity of the paste. 1. Increase the amount of
thickener.
11.Conclusion:
Pigment printing process is the most commonly used printing technique so far. It can be done on
almost any kind of natural or synthetic fabrics and the process is also easier than others. One of
the reasons of its popularity is that a wide range of shades of colors can be created easily.
Pigments are synthetic colors which are water insoluble and hence do not penetrate into fabrics.
It is used as paint on wood, textiles, stone, etc.Pigment printing in textile is the most commonly
used textile printing technique because any shade of color can be created on fabric by using
pigment colors. Pigments on textile are possible to paste with external agent which is called
binder paste. It works as adhesive between pigment and fiber. Washing fastness of fabric
depends on quality of chemicals used in making paste
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12.Reference:
https://www.slideshare.net/mothu/pigment-printing-of-textiles
http://www.swastiktextile.com/rotary_printi ng_machine.html
http://textilelearner.blogspot.com/2012/01/ rotary-screen-printing-machine-working.html
https://www.slideshare.net/islammajharul/reactive-pigment-printing?qid=affd4096-9536-
4541-803c-0c94e0c3ad54&v=&b=&from_search=3
https://textilelearner.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-typical-printing-process-printing.html
https://textilelearner.blogspot.com/2012/03/pigment-printing-process.
http://www.kemiteks.com/en-US/catalogue/pigment-printing-range/pigment-printing-
auxiliaries/943/261470.
https://textilelearner.blogspot.com/2012/03/inroduction-of-pigment.html
https://textilestudycenter.com/textile-printing/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textile_printing
http://vipulorganics.com/blog/2016/06/23/what-is-pigment-printing-advantages-and-
disadvantages-of-pigment-printing/
https://www.slideshare.net/zydexindustries/advantages-of-eco-friendly-pigment-printing-
process-121304816?qid=61b51b50-fe47-46dd-a436-
0d73cad9c8d7&v=&b=&from_search=5
https://www.slideshare.net/mothu/advances-in-pigment-printing?qid=61b51b50-fe47-
46dd-a436-0d73cad9c8d7&v=&b=&from_search=6
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