Aroma Finishing and Pigment Printing of Thai Silk Fabric by 1-Step All-In Printing Process

Abstract

In this study, a combined aroma finishing and pigment printing process was investigated in order to develop 1-step, all-in aroma finishing/pigment printing process for Thai silk. Lemongrass oil microcapsules, an aroma finishing agent, was applied on silk by screen printing process and the properties of the printed fabrics were examined. Pigment printing was also performed individually by screen printing and the colorimetric properties of the print were measured. Binder content affected the print properties of both aroma microcapsules and pigment on silk. An appropriate binder content was chosen at 20 g/100 g print paste. The 1-step, all-in aroma finishing/pigment printing process was performed by printing both lemongrass oil microcapsules and pigment simultaneously on silk fabrics. The process efficiency was determined in two different aspects i.e. aroma finishing effect and coloring effect. Aroma finishing effect of the 1-step, all-in process was examined in comparison with the individual microcapsule print results while the coloring effect was compared between the printed fabric from 1-step, all-in process and the individual pigment printing. The results showed that the 1-step, all-in process could provide comparable aroma finishing effect and pigment print quality to the separated finishing and pigment printing processes.