Inkjet Printing For Fabrication Research Articles

Optimization and evaluation of a blue light photoinitiating system for textile inkjet printing

A blue light curing process was developed to solve the nozzle clogging challenge commonly encountered in conventional textile pigment printing, by using camphorquinone (CQ) and ethyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate (EDMAB) as a photoinitiator combination and substituting oligomers and monomers for a polymeric binder. High light absorption efficiency was insured by closely matching the spectrum of the photoinitiator with a custom-made blue light light-emitting diode set-up. Kinetic analyses of such a CQ/EDMAB system indicated that the maximum polymerization rate of the monomer was proportional to [PI]0.5 and [I0]0.5, while excessive high photoinitiator concentration (>1 wt%) will decrease the polymerization rate because of the “filter effect.” With optimized blue light curable pigment ink formula and irradiation conditions, the photocurable pigment printed fabrics exhibited uniform and vibrant colors, clear outlines, and excellent wet and dry rubbing fastness of grades 4 and 4–5, respectively.

Experimental study and mathematical model to follow the spreading diameter on coated woven cotton fabric

This paper presents an experimental study of the liquid drop spreading in porous media. The spreading phenomenon is being investigated for various applications including the textile ink jet printing. In this study, drop-spreading experiments were carried out with ink solution on virgin glass plate, film of coating paste and on coated woven fabric with different emport rate and two drying temperature. The drop-spreading behavior was examined by measuring the contact diameter, the height and the volume of the drop along the time. Then, mathematical model was has been put in to evaluate and quantify the spreading phenomenon. It was concluded that the drop shape has two phases where the spreading governs the drop profile in first time and the evaporation controls it at long times. Thus, the drop-spreading was deeply affected by the drying temperature of coating paste and the woven fabric structure where the mentioned phases have been influenced. Moreover, to evaluate the spreading phenomenon, a mathematical model was put in. It presents high conformity with the experimental results, so it could constitute a prototype of the industry of ink jet printing.

The effect of fabric density on the quality of digital printing on polyester

One of the most important benefits of textile inkjet printing is the print quality. However, some factors affect the print quality, such as the weave density. In this research, the effect of weft density on the inkjet printing of polyester was investigated. Lines with different widths were printed in the warp and weft directions, and the print quality was evaluated as the line width. The obtained result showed that the weft density affected the line width and the print quality decreased with an increased weft density. The width of the lines printed in the weft direction is more than the width of lines printed in the warp direction. Also, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) results confirmed the effect of the weft density and the printed lines direction on the line width and print quality. The investigation of the relation between the print quality and the vertical wicking shows a very poor relation between the two.

Developing the methodology of colour gamut analysis and print quality evaluation for textile ink‐jet printing: Delphi method

This research used the Delphi method to investigate current colour gamut analysis methods, which is a critical component of colour management systems (CMS). Thirteen ink‐jet printing experts were interviewed to understand how they manage colour and their process for analysing and comparing colour gamut. A significant result of this study was the development of a four‐stage process model for colour gamut analysis and print quality evaluation for textile ink‐jet printing. The optimal process model was verified and approved by experts. This study uncovered an industry initiative toward the improvement of CMS for more accurate colour matching, a need to stabilise variables in the manufacturing process, and a need to standardise related tests and evaluations. The study also revealed new CMS software and technologies developed for ink formulation and pre‐/post‐treatment methods to facilitate high quality production in textile ink‐jet printing.

Fabrication of reactive pigment composite particles for blue-light curable inkjet printing of textiles

The Reactive Phthalocyanine Blue (RPB) was fabricated by two-step method, and then used to prepare blue light curable inks. After injection, RPB can participate in the copolymerization of oligomers and monomers under blue-LED irradiation.

Preparation and characterization of Phthalocyanine Blue encapsulated with silane coupling agent for blue light curable inkjet printing of textiles

A novel reactive organic pigment complex was prepared by 3-(Trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate encapsulated on the surface of the organic pigment. The preparation conditions of the reactive organic pigment complex were optimized and the properties were characterized by FT-IR, DLS and UV–vis. The reactive organic pigment complex was used in blue-light curable pigment inks. The results showed that the photo-polymerization performance of the novel blue light curable pigment ink system was markedly increased in comparison with conventional pigment-based ink systems. The physical shielding effect of pigment particles on photo-polymerization performance can be reduced by increasing the photoinitiator concentration and irradiation intensities. The colorfastness to crocking of printed fabric was remarkably improved. However, the particle size of reactive organic pigment complex was slightly increased.

Textile inkjet printing to support US manufacture reshoring

This research involved the examination of pigment-based and disperse dye-based inksets applied to polyester fabric by textile inkjet printing. Colorimetric data were recorded for each color, as well as the mixed colors generated through RIPMaster V11 software. Color Table (CTB) profiles were created to compare spot colors and International color consortium (ICC) profiles were created to evaluate color gamut volumes. Four-color and seven-color disperse inksets were compared, while six-color and eight-color pigment inksets were compared. As expected, the additional colors increased color gamuts significantly. It was also found that the disperse dye-based inkset provided deeper color shades, and excellent wet and dry crock fastness properties. However, the light fastness for disperse dye-based inksets was not as good as the levels obtained using pigment-based inksets.

Textile inkjet printing to support US manufacture reshoring

Textile inkjet printing to support US manufacture reshoring

Development of self-curable hybrid pigment inks by miniemulsion polymerization for inkjet printing of cotton fabrics

In our work, organic pigments were encapsulated with a polymer latex layer to reduce the tendency for pigment agglomeration and improve their stability in aqueous ink dispersions. Such polymer-encapsulated pigments then were applied in inkjet printing without addition of separate binder additives, thereby reducing the risk of unfavorable interactions between the separate latex and pigment particles. We studied systematically the encapsulation of C.I. Pigment red 112 by miniemulsion polymerization of pigment/butyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate (BA-MMA) or styrene-co-butyl acrylate (St-BA) copolymers. The ratio of monomer to pigment was varied to find optimum conditions for the preparation of self-curable hybrid pigment inks for the textile inkjet printing application. Inkjet printing of cotton fabrics with different encapsulated and non-encapsulated pigment colors shows that the encapsulated pigment/polymer latex particles yield equally good values in terms of color strength, rubbing and washing fastness in comparison to non-encapsulated conventional inks, but avoiding problems of clogging and colloidal instability.

Particle Fabrication Using Inkjet Printing onto Hydrophobic Surfaces for Optimization and Calibration of Trace Contraband Detection Sensors.

A method has been developed to fabricate patterned arrays of micrometer-sized monodisperse solid particles of ammonium nitrate on hydrophobic silicon surfaces using inkjet printing. The method relies on dispensing one or more microdrops of a concentrated aqueous ammonium nitrate solution from a drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet printer at specific locations on a silicon substrate rendered hydrophobic by a perfluorodecytrichlorosilane monolayer coating. The deposited liquid droplets form into the shape of a spherical shaped cap; during the evaporation process, a deposited liquid droplet maintains this geometry until it forms a solid micrometer sized particle. Arrays of solid particles are obtained by sequential translation of the printer stage. The use of DOD inkjet printing for fabrication of discrete particle arrays allows for precise control of particle characteristics (mass, diameter and height), as well as the particle number and spatial distribution on the substrate. The final mass of an individual particle is precisely determined by using gravimetric measurement of the average mass of solution ejected per microdrop. The primary application of this method is fabrication of test materials for the evaluation of spatially-resolved optical and mass spectrometry based sensors used for detecting particle residues of contraband materials, such as explosives or narcotics.

Preparation of UV-cured pigment/latex dispersion for textile inkjet printing

UV-cured pigment/latex dispersions were prepared via miniemulsion polymerization, and further applied to formulate UV-cured pigment/latex inks for textile inkjet printing. FTIR, TEM and TGA results proved that the pigment was embedded into the latex. The increase in colorfastness of printed fabric indicated that the encapsulation layer of UV-cured pigment/latex could be enhanced by increasing the amount of styrene in polymerization. In addition, the prepared UV-cured pigment/latex inks were found to have excellent stability and jettability, and the printed cotton fabric showed high colorfastness and softness after UV irradiation. SEM images illustrated that the UV-cured pigment/latex inks formed a separate film on cotton fabric which was unlike the commercial pigment ink forming a continuous film. This research combined the strengths of both UV-cured technology and miniemulsion polymerization.

Spray-coated Pt counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cell utilizing electrostatic inkjet printing

Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) is highly focused because of low-cost. Generally, DSC was composed of photoelectrode, dye, electrolyte, and counter electrode (CE). Sputter-coated Pt on the fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode was mainly used as CE, however it was expensive and low speed fabrication. In this study, we tried to apply the spray mode of the electrostatic inkjet printing for fabrication of CE. Fundamental characteristics were investigated with the spray-coated Pt CE, the sputter-coated Pt CE, and FTO CE. Conversion efficiency was very low in case of FTO CE. Efficiency of spray-coated Pt CE was 3.6%. The efficiency was a little lower than that of commonly used sputter-coated Pt CE because Pt was not completely coated on the FTO glass by the inkjet printing. These results indicated that spray-coated Pt on FTO glass had possibility to be used as CE of DSC.

UV-curable encapsulation of surface—Modified organic pigments for inkjet printing of textiles

Aqueous dispersions of nano-scale organic pigments were prepared through ball milling and ultra-sonication in presence of dispersing agents. The well dispersed pigment was encapsulated into UV-curable resin via miniemulsion technique. Effects of molecular structure of organic pigments, type of dispersing agent and time of ball milling were investigated. Results showed that C.I. Pigment Green 7 had better dispersion stability with time compared with other pigments. Ultracentrifuge sedimentation test, shelf life stability, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) provided supporting evidences for the encapsulation of C.I. Pigment Green 7 into polyester tetra acrylate/1,6-hexandiol dimethacrylate. Zeta potential results proved that UV-curable encapsulation of C.I. Pigment Green 7 intensifies the charge on the surface of the pigment and significantly increases the dispersion stability. This method of modifying organic pigments to be used as pigmented UV-curable inkjet inks was found to be durable and effective in preliminary application in inkjet printing of textiles.

Preparation of TiO<sub>2</sub>/latex Composite for inkjet white ink

A TiO2/latex composite was prepared from KH570-modified TiO2 and methylmethacrylate (MMA) via miniemulsion polymerization, and further was used to formulate a white inkjet ink. Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the copolymer of DNS-86 and MMA was successfully coated onto TiO2 surface and amount of copolymer was about 40%. A white inkjet ink prepared from the TiO2/latex composite had a small particle size, a narrow particle size distribution and enhanced stabilities to temperature and centrifugal forces. This research may provide a method to prepare a white inkjet ink for textile inkjet printing.

Behavior of printable formulations of loperamide and caffeine on different substrates—Effect of print density in inkjet printing

The primary goal of the current work was to study the applicability of precision inkjet printing in fabrication of personalized doses of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Loperamide hydrochloride (LOP) and caffeine (CAF) were used as model compounds. Different doses of the drugs in a single dosage unit were produced, using a drop-on-demand inkjet printer by varying printing parameters such as the distance between jetted droplets (drop spacing) and the physical dimensions of the printed dosage forms. The behavior of the formulated printable inks for both APIs was investigated on the model substrates, using different analytical tools. The obtained results showed that printed LOP did not recrystallize on any substrates studied, whereas at least partial recrystallization of printed CAF was observed on all carrier surfaces. Flexible doses of both APIs were easily obtained by adjusting the drop spacing of the depositing inks, and the results were relevant with regards to the theoretical content. Adapting the dose by varying physical dimensions of single dosage units was less successful than the approach in which drop spacing was altered. In conclusion, controlled printing technology, by means of adjusting the distance between jetted droplets, offers a means to fabricate dosage forms with individualized doses.

Preparation of core–shell latex for the pigmented ink of textile inkjet printing

AbstractA core–shell latex comprising poly(butyl acrylate) as core and poly(styrene‐methyl methacrylate) as shell was synthesized by emulsion polymerization using allyloxy nonylphenoxy propanol polyoxyethylene ether ammonium sulfonate (ANPS) as emulsifier. Transmission electron microscope, differential scanning calorimeter, and thermogravimetric analyses suggested the prepared latex had a core–shell structure. The particle size of the core–shell latex was about 102.8 nm with a molar ratio of butylacrylate, methyl methacrylate, and styrene at 6 : 2 : 2, a mass ratio of ANPS and monomers, ammonium persulfate and monomers at 15% and 1.0%, respectively. The core–shell latex showed high centrifugal stability and excellent freeze‐thaw stability. The clogging nozzle rate of the pigmented ink containing 20 wt % core–shell latex was small, whereas the printed fabrics with this pigmented ink exhibited high rub and washing fastness. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013

A Brief Review on the Thermal Behaviors of Calixarene-Azocalixarene Derivatives and Their Complexes

Calixarenes have been widely regarded as an important class of macrocyclic host molecules, due to their efficient and highly selective binding properties towards specific metal ions. Azocalixarenes, containing single conjugated chromophore azo (‒N˭N‒) group in p- positions are synthesized by “one-pot” procedures with satisfactory yields. Their structures (as solid and liquid) are elucidated by UV-Vis, FT-IR, 1H and 13C-NMR spectroscopic methods, as well as elemental analysis techniques. Thermal stability of calixarenes is very important because of their potential applications in high temperature processes such as the dyeing of textile fibers, ink-jet printing and photocopying and in high technology areas such as lasers and electro-optical devices. In this paper all the thermal studies of parent calix[n]arenes, azocalix[4]arene derivatives and their complexes containing lower and upper rim functionalized groups are reported. All the thermo analytical results such as the temperature ranges and peak temperatures of thermal decomposition steps and amount of volatile pyrolysis products were emphasized. The effect of substituted groups and their positions on the thermal stability of calixarenes were investigated.

State of Art of Inkjet Textile Printing: Status Report 2012

Since the introduction of inkjet textile printing technology in 2003, at ITMA in Birmingham, UK, textile inkjet printing production has changed from inkjet textile sample printing to complete production printing. However, the overall penetration rates for digital inkjet technology in the textile printing sectors are still meager compared with conventional analog printing technologies. Based on empirical research, including international case studies and field trips over the past 10 years, this paper disseminates current utilization of inkjet technologies. Ascertaining user standpoints, mills, printing service operations and designer perspectives will be investigated in relation to commercial applications. Missing links between the manufacturers, engineering concepts, and the end-users demands, will be also be scrutinized.

Present State of Inkjet Printing Technology for Textile

nkjet printing technology can produce beautiful images not only on plain paper, but also on various kinds of printing media including a piece of cloth. Some Japanese companies have already stepped into the textile inkjet printer market, but making a profit is not easy so long as we look upon the inkjet printing technology as an alternative means of textile dyeing. Cost reduction is necessary as a whole for the inkjet printing systems to come into wide use in the textile dyeing industry. This paper describes current textile inkjet printing technology.

Microemulsion polymerization of microlatex in sublimation ink for cotton fabric ink jet printing

AbstractA novel microlatex of styrene/2‐ethylhexylacrylate (2‐EHA)/2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2‐HEMA)/N‐(isobutoxy methyl) acrylamide (IBMA) copolymer was synthesized and mixed in sublimation inks to be inkjet printed on the cotton fabric to provide soft hand feel and good color fastness after heat‐press. In the optimized microemulsion composition with highest monomer mixture amount, polymerizable maleate surfactants with moderate EO value attained smaller microemulsion droplet size in mono distribution and lower dosage than conventional POE surfactants in combination with anionic surfactants. With adopted semicontinuous process in microemulsion copolymerization at 65°C, the polymerizable surfactants stabilized the growth of microlatex particle size within 70 nm in 240 min and attained 100% of monomer conversion rate with two initiator systems, 2‐2‐azobis(2‐methlypropionamidine dihydrochloride (AAPH) and tert‐butylhydroperoxide (TBHP)/sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate (SFS). The microlatex particle size of two surfactant systems increased with higher conversion rate and reaction temperature, which synchronized with initiator concentration. High polymer solid content was contributed mainly by IBMA monomer ratio requiring higher amounts of anionic surfactants and 2‐HEMA as a cosurfactant in particle stabilization. Although the optimum ink containing high IBMA microemulsion exhibited small variation in viscosity, pH value and surface tension, disperse dyes in four colors had different interaction with the microlatex to demonstrate distinct printing durability and color performance. The resulted cotton fabric attained high K/S value for color strength, great AATCC grade for color fastness, and nearly zero color difference for negative dye particle diffusion or migration. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011