When printing with water-based ink on non-woven fabrics, the following points should be taken into consideration to ensure good print quality and process stability:
Ink Dilution and Preparation:
Water-based ink must be diluted with water to the appropriate printing viscosity before use; it should not be printed directly with undiluted ink to prevent excessive ink buildup leading to uneven printing or printing malfunctions.
Compatibility with Non-woven Material:
Given that non-woven fabrics often consist of materials like polypropylene which have poor affinity for water-based inks, it is essential to choose water-based inks specifically designed for non-woven fabric printing that offer better adhesion and compatibility.
Printing Environment Control:
The temperature and humidity of the working environment need to be maintained at stable levels as water-based inks can be sensitive to changes in climate conditions, which may affect ink performance and printing accuracy.
Process Management During Printing:
Continuously monitor and adjust the ink viscosity during the printing process to avoid too low viscosity causing light prints or too high viscosity leading to blockage or smudging issues.
Promptly clean ink trays, printing plates, and ink rollers when stopping the machine to prevent ink from drying and clogging, which can result in print defects such as ghosting or lack of definition.
Drying and Fixation:
Pay attention to the drying time of the ink; water-based inks might dry slower on non-woven fabrics compared to other substrates, requiring suitable drying conditions to ensure the ink is fully dried and firmly adhered to the non-woven fabric.
Opacity Issues:
If the opacity of the water-based ink on non-woven fabric is insufficient, it could indicate an inappropriate selection or formulation unsuitable for a specific type of non-woven material, necessitating the use of products with higher opacity.
Wastewater Treatment:
The use of water-based inks in printing generates wastewater, which must be properly handled and treated according to environmental regulations, without unauthorized discharge.
In summary, every step from the choice of water-based ink, through dilution, control of printing conditions to post-processing stages requires meticulous operation and scientific management when printing on non-woven fabrics. Moreover, any issues such as color fading or poor coverage should be promptly analyzed and addressed with corresponding solutions.