Pigment Printing on Cotton Fabric

Pigment is a kind of synthetic organic materials. Pigment printing applies pigment paste on the surface of cotton fabrics so that can produce attractive design. Pigments are found in particle state and the particle size range should be in the region of 0.1 - 3 microns.

Pigment printing should be used with binder system together. As bekend is vir almal, pigment has no affinity on cotton fabric. For this, binder system is necessary during printing. The binder is a film that forms substance to make up of long macromolecules when applied to the textile materials to produce a 3-dimensional networked. The 3-dimensional links are formed during some suitable fixing process, consisting of dry heat and changing in pH value (<5), bringing about self-cross linking or reaction with suitable cross-linking agent. This cross-linking improves the elasticity and adhesion of the film to the substrate.

Advantages of pigment printing:
1. Both natural and synthetic fibers can use printing pigment.
2. Pigment printing is easy for using.
3. Pigment printing has the highest economical efficiency.
4. Pigment printing allows maximum output of goods.
5. Pigment printing has good fastness.
6. Pigment printing has good defined design.

Disadvantages of pigment printing:
1. Pigment printed textile has less comfort.
2. Pigments are sensitive to crushing during roller printing.
3. Rubbing fastness is medium.
4. Pigments are completely fast to dry cleaning.