Types of Digital Textile Inks

Digital textile printing relies on various types of inks, each designed to work with specific fabric types. Here’s a summary of the five primary digital textile inks:

1. Reactive Inks

Reactive inks are primarily used for cellulose fibers such as cotton, linen, and rayon. These inks form a chemical bond with the fibers, resulting in excellent wash fastness and durability. The typical process involves pre-treating the fabric, applying the ink via inkjet printing, drying, and then steaming to fix the dye. This process is followed by a wash to remove excess dye. This ink type is common in T-shirts, apparel, and home textiles.

2. Disperse Inks

Disperse inks are best for synthetic fibers like polyester and polyester blends. They physically adhere to the fibers and are known for their vibrant colors and durability. After the inkjet printing, the fabric is dried to remove excess moisture, and a heat treatment sets the dye deeper into the fibers. These inks are widely used in sportswear, swimwear, and activewear.

3. Acid Inks

Acid inks are designed for protein fibers like wool, silk, and nylon. They require an acid-based curing process to create a strong bond with the fibers. After inkjet printing, drying, and mild acid steaming, these inks provide good color fastness. Acid inks are used for scarves, lingerie, and decorative fabrics.

4. Pigment Inks

Pigment inks sit on top of the fabric rather than bonding with it. This characteristic allows these inks to be used on various fabric types, including natural and synthetic blends. The process involves pre-treating the fabric with a binder, applying the ink, drying, and heat treating to fix the pigment particles. Pigment inks are suitable for T-shirts, tote bags, and promotional items, though they may not offer as high colorfastness as other inks.

5. Sublimation Inks

Sublimation inks require a two-step process: inkjet printing on transfer paper followed by heat press to transfer the dye to polyester-based fabrics. This method results in excellent color vibrancy and durability as the dye becomes part of the fiber. Sublimation inks are popular for sportswear, athletic wear, and promotional items.

ATEXCO's role in Digital Textile Printing

Atexco is a well-known company in the digital textile printing industry, offering a variety of solutions, including printers and inks. Here’s what makes Atexco notable:

• Experience: Since its founding in 1992, Atexco has a wealth of experience in digital textile printing technology, from R&D to manufacturing and sales. Their extensive expertise contributes to their product reliability.

• Variety: Atexco provides a wide range of ink types, catering to different printing processes and fabric needs. Their offerings cover reactive, disperse, acid, pigment, and sublimation inks.

• Innovation: Atexco is known for its innovative approaches, such as its two-sided digital textile printer, reflecting the company's commitment to advancements in the field.

ATEXCO offers a selection of industrial printers optimized for various digital textile ink types:

• Sublimation ink printer: Atexco model X Plus and model H are designed for high performance in sublimation ink printing, with features that support optimal heat transfer for vibrant prints on polyester fabrics.

• Reactive, Acid, Disperse ink printer: The Atexco Vega X1 and Vega X5 are suited to these inks, providing specialized features for inkjet printing and curing processes tailored to each ink type.

• Pigment ink printer: Atexco Eco Print is designed for pigment ink, focusing on ink adhesion and fixation to achieve good wash fastness on a range of fabrics.

Atexco's comprehensive approach, providing both digital textile inks and compatible printers, positions it as a reliable partner in digital textile printing. With a focus on innovation, product variety, and industry experience, Atexco continues to meet the diverse needs of textile printing professionals.

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