Pigment Ink Formulation for Inkjet Printing of Different Textile Materials

Cotton, polyester, and cotton polyester blended woven fabrics were printed using an ink jet print using by means of a prepared pigment ink. Literature indicated that the development of insoluble pigment-based inks presents enormous challenges to the ink formulator. Meanwhile, pigments face several application problems in terms of their dispersion stability within the ink formulation, and consequently blocking the nozzles within the inkjet print head. Upon this, Two pigment colors : M.D. Blue 15:3 and Daicofast Yellow 1252 were successfully formulated and factors affecting the final color yield of inkjet printed fabrics such as, pigment concentration and other ink contents: dispersing agent, ethylene glycol and diammonium Phosphate concentrations, thermo-fixation time and temperature for the three printed substrates pretreated with binder were investigated in detail. The study was done on two route bases, first: the preparation of pigmented inks for inkjet printing and the application of the ink on the three substrates, in order to determine the optimum concentration of pigment ink contents. Second: increasing the wash and crocking fastness properties of the printed fabrics with pigment inks. In addition, the two pigment inks physical properties: density, viscosity and surface tension were measured as well as fastness levels of their prints.