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Anionically surface‐modified pigment/binder ink jet inks for silk fabric printing

K. Chakvattanatham (Imaging Technology Research Unit, Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand)
S. Phattanarudee (Imaging Technology Research Unit, Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand)
S. Kiatkamjornwong (Imaging Technology Research Unit, Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand)

Pigment & Resin Technology

ISSN: 0369-9420

Article publication date: 9 November 2010

638

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to prepare anionically surface‐modified organic pigment/binder ink jet inks for printing on chitosan‐pre‐treated silk fabrics.

Design/methodology/approach

Anionically surface‐modified organic pigment/binder ink jet inks were prepared in four colours (cyan, magenta, yellow and black). The pigment‐to‐binder ratio was controlled at 1:6.4 for the cyan, magenta and yellow inks, and 1:3.4 for the black ink. Ink formulations (by weight) were assembled and mixed as follows: 8 per cent pigment dispersion, 10 per cent diethylene glycol, 12 per cent glycerol, 5 per cent urea, 10 per cent polyacrylate emulsion binder and 55 per cent deionised water. They were characterised in terms of their particle size, zeta‐potential, particle morphology, viscosity, surface tension and pH. The inks were printed onto silk or the chitosan pre‐treated silk fabrics using a piezo‐type ink jet printer. The fabrics were then heat cured and analysed for the effect of chitosan pre‐treatment on colour gamut, wash fastness and crock fastness.

Findings

The formulated ink jet inks yielded an acceptably good ink jetting reliability, one‐year stability and printability. The chitosan pre‐treated silk fabrics gave a wider colour gamut and colour saturation than the non‐treated one. Crock fastness and wash fastness of the chitosan pre‐treated fabrics were relatively better than those of non‐treated fabrics.

Research limitations/implications

The surface‐modified pigments are transparent and thus their inks printed on the chitosan pre‐treated fabrics produced slightly low K/S values of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colours because the limited chitosan concentration in the pre‐treatment is controlled by its solubility in acidic solution. The higher loading of chitosan pre‐treatment gave higher K/S values and a stiffer touch of the fabrics.

Practical implications

The water‐based pigmented inks having the sulphonate group on the pigment surface can be printed on the fabric surface pre‐treated with chitosan molecules which have the protonated amino groups to give good colour appearance. It is anticipated that this type of ink can be applied to any textile surface which has been pre‐treated with the protonated chitosan.

Originality/value

The modified organic pigments having the sulphonate group on their surface can be used to produce novel water‐based ink jet inks which can print on the chitosan pre‐treated silk fabric. Ionic interactions between the sulphonate group of the pigment and protonated amino groups of chitosan in conjunction with polyacrylate binder enhance colour strength, widen colour gamut and chroma, and produce good adhesion for fabric operational properties such as wash fastness and crock fastness.

Keywords

Citation

Chakvattanatham, K., Phattanarudee, S. and Kiatkamjornwong, S. (2010), "Anionically surface‐modified pigment/binder ink jet inks for silk fabric printing", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 39 No. 6, pp. 327-341. https://doi.org/10.1108/03699421011085821

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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