Any fabric requires the right choice of ink technology with the corresponding curing process. The screenprinter has that expertise and knows what the guidelines are for washing at certain temperatures. These are all clearly defined in standards that are higher than the recommended washing instructions on the label and are based on a binding sustainability profile with ethical and environmental responsibility.

Discharge inks

Discharge is the etching away of the reactive dye from the organic cellulose fibre of cotton. The colouring of the original fibre becomes visible, and the softness and suppleness of the fabric is optimal. The benefits are that the fabric is fine for washing and ironing and the printed shirt is fully breathable; for fashion streetwear this is an absolute requisite on dark fabrics. Moreover, with pure discharge inks, ultimately no more harmful substances are present in the textile.

However, screen- and textile printers are dependent on information from the supplier of the fabric about whether or not the shirts are dischargeable. A violet, green or royal blue coloured textile is not among the options for
etching discharge away – simply because these basic dyes are not reactive. Re-dyed shirts (clothing that is re-dyed in response to market demand) do not give the desired effect. The information from the textile supplier is vital; they must be aware of the goods that can be supplied for discharging. This technique is certainly productionefficient at low cost.

Härten der Druckfarben auf Stoff

The basis of this ink is composed of a base of a non-reactive two component silicone elastomer, to which a third component, a catalyst, is added. At a certain temperature or infra-red radiation, the catalyst does its job as a cross-linker and takes care of the polymerisation. As with plastisol inks this is the case, and now we also talk about curing.

Silicone textile-printing inks are relatively expensive and clients are often not aware of the possibilities. As everyone knows in the fashion and promotional textile market, ultimately it’s all about the price of the final product. The processing of a silicone ink corresponds to a plastisol ink, with the proviso that at a certain temperature the plastisol ink starts to jellify, whereas a silicone ink stays intact.

Silikon-Drucktinten

Waterinkten worden in de volksmond als de meest milieuvriendelijke inkten beschouwd. Maar de waterinkten zijn wel degelijk industrieel chemische stoffen en bevatten, naast een gering percentage organisch oplosmiddel, een mengsel van polyurethaan en acrylaat of polyamide als co-polymeren. Deze stoffen zijn gedispergeerd in water met ethylglycol. Een waterinkt bevat nog meer toevoegingen of stabilisatoren, zoals een ontschuimer, anti-allergenen, biocioden en een wax component. De samenstelling luistert zeer nauwkeurig en bij de productie is meer energie nodig dan bij de productie van oplosmiddelhoudende of andere inkten. Ook wordt water als dure grondstof aangemerkt. Maar eenmaal op de juiste wijze gecured is het resultaat oogstrelend.