Reactive ink formulated with various alcohols for improved properties and printing quality onto cotton fabrics

Abstract

The formulated inks with desirable physical and chemical properties are of significance for inkjet printing, to endow the fabric with expected image quality and color performance. Here, various kinds of water-soluble alcohols are preferably selected and introduced into reactive ink with an objective to improve the physical and rheological properties of ink and print quality of cotton fabric. In this study, the effects of alcohols with different boiling points on the rheology properties, drying behavior, and storage stability of ink were extensively investigated. Moreover, the print image performance, including color strength, fixation rate, ink penetration, and outline sharpness, was evaluated. The results indicated that the inks containing glycerol, diethylene glycol, and triethylene glycol possessed slower evaporation rates, but the storage stability and the dye fixation value of these inks would be decreased. The addition of alcohols into the reactive dye ink could increase the ink penetration and reduce the line image quality. The ink containing 1,2-propanediol with a medium boiling point can effectively satisfy various properties of the reactive ink and improve the fixing rate and printing quality onto cotton fabrics. Furthermore, these findings shed light on the propriate selection of reactive ink with alcohols and provide valuable information for technicians and researchers working in the printing industry.