Thickener

Printing thickener

Natural Modified natural Synthetic

1. Starch derivatives 1.Acrylic

1. Cereals Starch
e.g. British gum i.e. Polyacrylic acid
i.e. Maize Starch
C.M.S etc. Polyacrylic amides
Wheat Starch
2. Cellulose derivatives 2. Vinyl
2. Plant exudates
e.g. C.M.C i.e. Polyvinyl Chloride
i.e. Gum tragacanth
HEC Polyvinyl aceetate
Gum arabic
3. Gum derivatives Polyvinyl alcohol
Karaya gum
3. Root and seeds i.e. Meypro gum
i.e. Guar gum Indalca
Locust beam gum
4. Sea weeds
i.e. Na - alginate

C.M.S – Carboxy Methyl Starch

C.M.C – Carboxy Methyl Cellulose
H.E.C – Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose

Principles of selecting thickening agents:

 The print paste auxiliaries and dyes should be compatible with the thickener and
the thickener should be stable. If a cationic dye is added to a thickener with anionic
charges the viscosity will be charged and it will produce insoluble complexes.
Similarly anionic thickeners cannot be used when metal salts such as Al2(SO4)3 are
to be added.

 The PH of the print paste must be considered because some thickeners like Na-
alginate are only usable within a limited PH range and form gels when acids or
strong alkalis are added.

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 The choice of thickener to use with a particular class of dyestuffs depends on the
method of application and on the fabric to be printed.

 The extent to which a thickening agent is removed in a high speed washing process
is a vital consideration in the selection of thickener. For example, starch is rarely
used alone as a thickener because it is hard to remove by washing. Small amount
of Na-alginate addition can improve the removal of starch.

 Where sharp printing out line is required we should use high-solid content
thickener because this thickener will cause less filament breakage after drying and
also less blocking on screen.

Types of Thickeners
Starch paste
Starch paste is made from wheat starch, cold water, and olive oil, then thickened
by boiling. Non-modified starch is applicable to all but strongly alkaline or
strongly acid colors.

Flour paste

Flour paste is made in a similar way to starch paste; it is sometimes used to thicken
aluminum and iron mordants. Starch paste resists of rice flour have been used for
several centuries in Japan.

Gum tragacanth, or Dragon, which may be mixed in any proportion with starch
or flour, is equally useful for pigment colors and mordant colors.

Carboxy methyl tamarind is another textile thickener which is a derivative of

polysaccharide and 20 % ash content and 9 % moisture content. It is multipurpose
thickener that is helpful in numerous applications for different types of materials
such as cotton or vat dying.

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 British gum or dextrin is prepared by heating starch. It varies considerably in
composition

Gum Arabic: It is the original source of the sugars arabinose and ribose, both
of which were first discovered and isolated from it.

Gum arabic allows more precise control over washes, because it prevents them
from flowing or bleeding beyond the brush stroke.

In cosmetics, gum arabic functions as a stabilizer in lotions and protective creams,

where it increases viscosity, imparts spreading properties, and provides a
protective coating and a smooth feel.

Guar gum for textile printing plays a major role in printing textiles.

They are made of macromolecules and they are capable of absorbing water to
create a sticky paste adding color value to the textile.

Albumen is both a thickening and a fixing agent for insoluble pigments. Chrome
yellow, vermilion and ultramarine are such pigments.

Alginate: Sodium alginate is the most popular of the dye thickeners.

Methyl cellulose is a thickener commonly used for marbling. The water is

thickened with methyl cellulose so that it will support fabric paint which is floated
on top of it.

Emulsion thickener/Viscous thickener:

Emulsion thickener is a thickener for textile printing consisting of emulsifier, water

and a water immiscible liquid (chiefly kerosene or white spirit). Depending of the
type of emulsifier, two types of emulsion thickeners are formed-

• Water-in-oil emulsion, which is a dispersion of inert hydrocarbon oil in a

continuous phase.

• Oil-in-water emulsion, which is a dispersion of an aqueous phase in hydrocarbon.

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 Thickeners used for printing with disperse dyes:

1. Natural gum: with natural thickeners sharp prints are attained and the dried
thickener film is relatively elastic.

2. Starch ethers: Their wash off properties is not good and therefore starch others are
mixed with locust bean gum, which produces dull prints with poor colour yield when
used alone.

3. Locust bean gum: Most commonly used thickness they produces sharp/bright
prints.

4. Guan gum: They product depth sharpness and levelness of the points.

5. CMC: Prints with CMC are normally level and sharp and have good yield, clarity
and Brightness.

6. British gum: Produce sharp prints, paste become durable, prolonged lasting easily
washable.

7. Starch: No reaction with alkali increase levelness and penetration of the dye, the
flow properly improved.

8. Na-alginate: It imparts the brightness of the print especially in the theromsol

process.

9. Emulsion Thickener: These are helpful since the mineral spirits are excellence
wetting agent for hydrophobic fibers. These thickenings increase levelness and
penetration of the dye in the fiber.

So combination of thickener should be used.

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 Printing with Reactive Dyes

Thickeners used for Printing with Reactive Dyes

Normal thickeners are not suitable for printing with reactive dyes. Example British gum,
guar gum, starch are not suitable for printing with reactive dyes.

Because they all contain terminal-OH group (hydroxyl group) which readily reacts with
reactive dyes.

 Na-alginate thicker is used for printing with reactive dyes. In roller printing, Na-
alginate show improved flow properties and give depth, sharpness and levelness of
the printing.
 In screen printing, it is essential to use emulsion thickenings when overlapping
designs are being printed, since Na-alginate does not give sufficiently sharp outlines.
 Half emulsion (Mixture of Na-alginate emulsion) is suitable for reactive dye

printing.

Which brand among reactive dyes are suitable for reactive printing?
 Mono-functional
 Bi-functional
 Multifunctional

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Printing Methods
1. Steaming process:
Print with alkali → Drying → Steaming → Washing → Drying
2. Dry heat process:
Print with alkali → Drying → Curing → Washing → Drying
3. Alkali-pad printing process:
Print without alkali → Dry → Pad with alkali → Dry on cylinder → Washing → Dry

4. Air development process:

Printing of Cotton Fabric using Print –Dry-Steam Method

(Steaming process)

In the process, the printing paste contains-

 A mild alkali (sodium bi carbonate)
 A mild oxidizing agent (to counteract any reducing influences on the reactive dye)
 Urea helps to bring the dye into solution and helps to bring about the humidity
required fixing during the subsequent steaming.
 Sodium alginate as the thickener.

Printing Recipe:

1. Urea 50-150gm
2. Water (heated to 70°C) 420-245gm
3. Procion dyes 10-80gm
4. Na-alginate (5%) 500gm
5. Resist salt L/ Ludigol 10gm
6. Sodium bicarbonate 10 to 15gm
1000gm

Pretreatment of cotton fabric:

Singeing, Desizing, Scouring, Bleaching and Mercerizing are done as per the fabric
quality requirement.
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Printing Paste Preparation:
Stirring
Urea + Dye + boil water → Paste − I

Stirring
Paste − I + Na − alginate + resilt salt → Paste − II

Stirring
Paste − I I + Sodium bicarbonate → Paste − III (Final paste)

Application of print paste:

Printing is done as per below style and method of printing.

Style of printing: Direct style

Method of Printing: Block Printing

After treatment:

After printing the fabrics is treated-

 Drying at 140 to 160°C for 4-6 min

 Steaming at 100 - 102°C for 5-10 min for hot brand dyes and for about 15 sec for
cold brand reactive dyes.
 Washing off.
 Drying

Process sequence:
Print with alkali → Drying → Steaming → Washing → Drying

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 Printing of Cotton Fabric using Print –Dry-Cure Method
(Dry Heat/Baking Process)

Many of hot brands Procion dyes can be fixed by the dry heat Process. Shades similar to
or brighter than those produced by steaming process can be obtained in the dry heat
process.

Recipe:
Urea up to 200 g
Sodium bicarbonate 15g (for cold brand)
Resist salt 10 g
Na-alginate 400g
Water 325g
Procion Dye 50g
1000 g

Pretreatment of cotton fabric:

Singeing, Desizing, Scouring, Bleaching and Mercerizing are done as per the fabric
quality requirement.

Printing paste Preparation:

Stirring
Urea + Dye + boil water → Paste − I

Stirring
Paste − I + Na − alginate + resilt salt → Paste − II

Stirring
Paste − I I + Sodium bicarbonate → Paste − III (Final paste)

Application of print paste:

Printing is done as per below style and method of printing.

Style of printing: Direct style

Method of Printing: Block Printing

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After treatment:
After printing, cold brand dyes may be fixed by heating at 100℃ for 3 min while
hot brands need a curing time of about 5 min at 140°-160℃.
Process sequence:
Printing → Drying → Curing → Washing → Drying

3. Alkali-Padding process:
In this case, the rapid reaction of cold brand reactive dyes and cellulose under the
influence of heat and moisture (in the presence of alkali) has been used to fix the prints,
which is done by passing the cloth in a cylinder drying range. This method is applicable
mostly to cold brand reactive dyes.

Recipe: The printing paste is prepared as-

Urea 50-150gm
Water (heated to 70℃) 420-245gm
Procion dyes 10-80gm
Na-alginate (5%) 500gm
Resist salt L/ Ludigol 10gm
1000gm
Pretreatment of cotton fabric:
Singeing, Desizing, Scouring, Bleaching and Mercerizing are done as per the fabric
quality requirement.

Printing paste Preparation:

Stirring
Urea + Dye + boil water → Paste − I
Stirring
Paste − I + Na − alginate + resilt salt → Paste − II
Application of print paste:
Printing is done as per below style and method of printing.
Style of printing: Direct style
Method of Printing: Block Printing

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After treatment:
After printing, the printed fabric is dried and the fabric is padded with 20g/L sodium
bi carbonate in the presence of Na-alginate. The fabric is immediately drier on steam
heated cylinders. Finally the fabrics is rinsed, soaped at the boil, washed and dried.

Process sequence:

Print without alkali → Dry → Pad with alkali → Dry on cylinder → Washing → Dry

4. Air Development Process:

Reasonable degree of fixation can be achieved for cold brand reactive dyes by this
process. Hot brands are unsuitable. Good yields can be obtained on mercerized cotton
and viscose rayon but the yields on unmercerized cotton are poor when fixed by this
process.

Recipe: The printing paste is prepared as-

Urea 50-150gm

Water (heated to 70°C) 420-245gm

Procion dyes 10-80gm

Na-alginate (5%) 500gm

Resist salt L/ Ludigol 10gm

1000 gm

The cloth is first padded with 2% sodium carbonate solution and dried preferably on a
cylinder. It is then printed with above printing paste OR the unprepared cloth is printed
with above printing paste with alkali. The cloth is then allowed to dry by hanging in the
air for several hours (warm humid atmosphere). It is rinsed, soaped at the boil, washed
and dried.

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a) Normal process/ Single phase/ All in method:
These are hot brand monochloro triazine reactive dyes are used.
Recipe: The printing paste may be prepared as follows-
Cibacron dyes 50 gm
Urea 200 gm
Hot water 203 gm
Na-alginate (5%) 470 gm
Potassium carbonate 60 gm (33% solution)
NaOH (66°Tw) 2gm
Ludigol 15 gm
1000gm

Pretreatment of cotton fabric:

Singeing, Desizing, Scouring, Bleaching and Mercerizing are done as per the fabric
quality requirement.

Printing paste Preparation:

 While preparing the printing paste the dye is first mixed with urea, hot water is
then added and stirred till dissolution is complete.
 The dye solution is then mixed with the Na-alginate thickening and resists salt
(Ludigol).
 In the solution, NaOH and potassium carbonate solution is added and printing paste
is prepared.

Application of print paste:

Printing is done as per below style and method of printing.
Style of printing: Direct style
Method of Printing: Block, Roller, Screen. Printing

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After treatment:
After printing the fabrics carried out-

 Dried 140℃-160℃
 Steaming at 100-102℃ for 1-2 min
 High pressure steaming at 130℃ for 30 sec OR
 Thermo fixation at 150℃ for 1 min.

b) Flash ageing process (Two phase):

This process originally developed for printing vat dyes can also be used for printing
reactive dyes.

In this process, printing is carried out in two phases-

1st phase:

The printing paste recipe-

Cibacron dyes 30-50gm
Water 470-450gm
Thickening (6 parts Na-algirnate 5% +1 part CMC) 500gm
1000g

In this stage, the printing paste is prepared with dye and thickener (Na-alginate and CMC)
and then water is added and stirring gently. Then printing paste is used for printing the
fabric.
Method of printing: Block printing.
Style of printing: Direct style of printing.
The fabric is printed with above printing paste and then drying.
2nd phase:
After printing, printed fabric is padded in the 2nd phase in a Pad liquor containing-

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 Common salt 150gm
Potassium carbonate 100gm
Sodium hydroxide (68° Tw) 30 ml
Water 720 ml
1000 ml

After padding, the dye is fixing by steaming at about 120℃ for 30-60 sec without
intermediate drying.

Finally the prints are soaped, washed and dried.

Process sequence:

Pretreatment → Printing → Drying → Padding → Steaming → Washing

c) Steam/Wet Fixation process:

In This process, printing is carried out in two phase-
1st Phase – The printing paste recipe-
Cibacron dyes 50gm
Urea 200gm
Ludigol 10gm
Na-alginate (5% paste) 500gm
Water 240gm
1000gm
Print paste preparation-
In this stage,

 The dye is pasted with urea and water and stirred gently dissolution is complete.
 The dye solution is mixed with Na-alginate and Ludigol without alkali and stirred
gently
 The print paste is prepared.

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Style of printing: Direct style of printing

Method of Printing: Screen or block.

The fabric is dried and steaming for 100-102℃

2nd stage:
The printed fabric may be treated with a solution containing-
Sodium hydroxide (66° Tw) 80gm/L
Soda ash 100gm/L
Sodium chloride 150gm/L
Sodium silicate 20gm/L
1L
At 90°C for 20 sec in open soaper, the fabric is then washed with cold, hot and finally
with cold water.
Process sequence:

Pretreatment → Printing → Drying → Steaming → Padding → Washing

Ingredients used:
The quantities of urea, alkali, Resist salt, may be varied depending on the depth of shade.
The following quantities may be used-

Dye Urea Sodium bicarbonate Resist salt L

g/Kg g/Kg g/Kg g/Kg
Cold brand
<40 50 10 10
10-40 100 10 10
>40 150 12.5 10
Hot brand
<40 100 15 10
>40 150 15 10

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Advantage of all in OR single phase over two phase method:
1. Urea is added to the printing paste for the fixation of dye but in two phase method
urea is not used.
2. Printing paste is prepared are time but in two phase method double time required.
3. Alkali is used for dye fixation but in two phase method, alkali is not used.
4. Shorter washing off time as alkali and Urea used.

Disadvantage:

 Complex to prepare printing paste

 Print is affected by stemming regulation.

Fixation of reactive printing may be carried out by the following methods-

1. Short steaming method: after printing and drying the cloth is steamed for 1 to 2
min at 102 to103°C washed and dried.

2. Thermo fixation Method: In this method, the printed and dried cloth is thermo
fixed at 180°C-140°C for 30 – 60s following by washing and drying.

3. High temperature steaming: The printed and dried cloth is steamed in a high
temperature steamer at 130°C for 30 sec at atmospheric pressure in a supper heated
steam followed by washing and drying.

High Temperature steaming:

• In this system, the live steam is raised to about 180°C at atmospheric pressure by
bringing live steam in contact with radiator.

• These radiator or the inside walls or ceiling of the steamer are maintained at this
high temp (200°C) either by pressure steam or oil heating system.

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Thermo fixation:
 Disperse dyes on polyester fabrics can be fixed by subjecting them to hot air at
210°C for about 30 sec.

 The thermo fixation is carried out on a stenter or a baking m/c where heat setting
and thermo fixation can be carried simultaneously

 Prints obtained by thermo fixation are not as bright as steam. 10-15% loss of color
yield results in the fixation

 Only these dyes with high sublimation fastness should be selected.

High pressure steaming:

• The disperse dye are steamed at 30 PSI (128°C) for 25-30 min.
• Disperse dyes of low sublimation fastness may be used.
• This system produces full color yield and bright prints.

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