The problem of printing non-woven fabrics with water-based ink
Date: Nov 06 2024 From: Star Color
When printing on non-woven fabrics with water-based inks, unique issues may arise, primarily stemming from the material characteristics of non-woven fabrics, as well as the adhesion and drying properties of water-based inks. Here are some common problems that may be encountered when printing non-woven fabrics with water-based inks:
- Poor Ink Adhesion
Non-woven fabrics are inherently non-absorbent with a low surface tension, resulting in poor adhesion of inks on their surfaces. This can lead to ink detachment, scraping, and other issues. The fiber structure of non-woven fabrics is not as conducive to ink penetration and adhesion as paper.
Solutions:
- Use water-based inks with stronger adhesion.
- Perform surface treatment on non-woven fabrics before printing (e.g., electrostatic treatment, coating treatment, plasma treatment).
- Use additives with strong adhesion, such as tackifiers or special adhesives.
- Blurred Print Patterns
The fiber structure of non-woven fabrics may cause ink to spread during the printing process, especially when using thinner inks, leading to blurred print patterns.
Solutions:
- Adjust the viscosity of the ink and select an appropriate ink layer thickness.
- Use an appropriate mesh screen count (mesh tension).
- Employ suitable printing parameters (e.g., pressure, speed).
- Uneven Printing Surface
The surface of non-woven fabrics is not as smooth as paper, leading to uneven ink application and potential issues such as inconsistent printing and uneven coloration.
Solutions:
- Optimize the ink formulation and select water-based inks suitable for non-woven fabrics.
- Use leveling agents and other additives to improve ink fluidity and ensure uniform coating.
- Slow Drying
Water-based inks may dry slowly on non-woven fabrics, especially in high-humidity environments. The ink may require a longer time to dry, potentially causing ink migration or scraping.
Solutions:
- Adopt suitable drying methods, such as infrared drying or hot air drying.
- Add crosslinkers or drying accelerators to promote ink drying.
- Control the humidity and temperature in the printing workshop.
- Poor Ink Penetration
Due to the porosity of non-woven fabrics, ink sometimes penetrates into the substrate, resulting in insufficient color saturation or poor printing effects.
Solutions:
- Choose inks with strong penetration or specifically designed for non-woven fabrics.
- Pre-treat the surface of non-woven fabrics to reduce ink penetration.
- Unclear Print Patterns
The fiber structure of non-woven fabrics may cause water-based inks to distribute unevenly on their surfaces, leading to blurred edges and missing details in print patterns.
Solutions:
- Adjust the rheological properties of the ink to ensure uniform distribution on non-woven fabrics.
- Use finer mesh screens and increase mesh tension.
- Incomplete Ink Curing
On some special non-woven fabric materials, water-based inks may experience incomplete curing, resulting in residual moisture on the ink surface, affecting the durability and feel of the finished product.
Solutions:
- Increase the curing agent in the ink or raise the drying temperature and time.
- Ensure the ink maintains appropriate humidity and temperature throughout the printing process.
- Poor Light Transmittance
Some non-woven fabrics may exhibit poor light transmittance of the ink after printing, especially when the ink layer is too thick, causing the printed surface to look uneven or colorless.
Solutions:
- Control the ink coating amount to avoid excessive thickness.
- Adjust the ink formulation to use appropriate color concentration and transparency.
- Poor Durability of Printed Products
Water-based ink-printed non-woven fabric products may experience color fading, scratching, and other issues during use, especially after washing or friction.
Solutions:
- Select water-based inks with high scratch and wash resistance.
- Apply appropriate post-treatment, such as coating protective layers or curing processes, to enhance the durability of the finished products.
These are the potential issues when printing non-woven fabrics with water-based inks. In actual printing, appropriate solutions should be selected based on specific problems to optimize ink adhesion, drying speed, and printing quality.
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