TRANSFER PRINTING

TRANSFER PRINTING
Indirect method of printing, in which a sublimable dye is transferred from paper to a thermoplastic fabric, under controlled conditions of temperature, time and pressure. In fact, it is not a printing process at all and is actually a calendering process.

TRANSFER PRINTING
Transfer printing is also called: (1) Sublistatic printing (2) Colorstatic printing (3) Vapour-phase printing (4) Dry-heat printing According to Bartonshaw, any process that involves the physical transfer of a design from one substrate to another is termed as a transfer printing.

TRANSFER PRINTING
It is a simple process, requiring only heat treatment for a very short time. It involves two stages. The desired pattern is printed on paper with ink made from disperse dyes, which are volatile. The pre-printed release paper is placed on the fabric.

TRANSFER PRINTING
Heat and pressure are applied to the back of the paper. The dye on the paper sublimes and diffuses into the fabric, which is in a plastic condition at that temperature (glass transition). The transfer of dye is effected at 180C to 220C, within 20 to 30 seconds.

TRANSFER PRINTING
After the dye is transferred, the paper is removed from the fabric, which does not need any further treatment. Usually about 80% of the dyestuff is fixed on the fabric and about 20% remains on the paper. Disperse dyes with a molecular weight of 240 to 350 are suitable for this process.

TRANSFER PRINTING
It is applicable mainly to polyester fabrics and garments made from it. More than 90% of transfer printing is carried out on 100% polyester material because the disperse dyes ideally suited for it. Polyester does not turn yellow, when heated to 200C for 2 minutes and it gives the best color yields.

TRANSFER PRINTING
Polyamide and acrylic fabrics can also be printed but their fastness to washing and rubbing is poor. Cotton, wool and silk are not thermoplastic and do not have any affinity for disperse dyes, so they are unsuitable for transfer printing. The most essential thing required for transfer printing is the paper printed with the desired design.

TRANSFER PRINTING
A good quality, non-fibrous and nonabsorbent paper, which would yield maximum dyestuff during heat transfer is used. It should have as smooth a surface as possible. Must not appear cloudy when viewed by transmitting light, which creates trouble when printing light shades.

TRANSFER PRINTING
For printing paper, dyestuff alone cannot be used. It has to be in the form of ink. The ink is made up of a volatile disperse dye, a solvent (water or alcohol) and a thickener (polyvinyl acetate).

TRANSFER PRINTING
Only a little ink is allowed on the paper in order to exclude the possibility of a halo (indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint) effect. The ink looks entirely different from what is actually seen on the fabric after transfer printing, since the full color value does not bloom till the dye has penetrated into the fiber.

TRANSFER PRINTING
The ink should stick to the paper and remain on the surface. Printing of paper is a skilled job and almost any design in fine lines or halftones can be exactly reproduced on the fabric. Two types of machines are mainly used for transfer printing: (1) Flat-bed press transfer printing machine. (2) Continuous calendar or drum transfer printing machine.

TRANSFER PRINTING
In flat-bed press machine, the process is batch-wise or discontinuous. It is mainly employed for garments (shirts, knitwear) as well as fabrics. In this machine, the fabric or garment is placed on the press bed and the pre-printed release paper is placed on it. It is then hot pressed between 180C to 220C for 20 to 30 seconds.

TRANSFER PRINTING

TRANSFER PRINTING

TRANSFER PRINTING
Continuous calendar transfer printing machine is used mainly for fabrics only. In this machine, the fabric and the pre-printed paper pass in close contact with each other round a large cylinder or drum (0.5 to 2 m in diameter). The two are held in contact by means of an endless blanket under tension.

TRANSFER PRINTING
The cylinder is heated electrically to 220C and the fabric, in firm contact with the paper is passed over it for 15 to 20 seconds. The operation is continuous. The output is 15 m/min.

ADVANTAGES
Very simple and does not require expensive machinery. No after-treatment required (drying, washing, steaming, curing, developing). As the operation is simple, no skilled labor or a color chemist is required. Cost of the labor is low. Operation is quite clean ensuring freedom from soiling of hands and clothes.

ADVANTAGES
Faults do not occur in printing because the defects are rectified at the stage of paper printing itself, consequently the rejects are low. Less space requirement for the machine. In multi-color printing, the method gives precise registering and permits production of intricate designs, fine lines and gradation effects, including animal skin effect.

DISADVANTAGES
Only applicable for polyester material. Other synthetic fibers like nylon or acrylic have poor wet fastness. The color range and number of dyes used for printing is limited. Cost of the printed paper is high and its width is limited. Not economical for short runs of fabric.

DISADVANTAGES
Designs on the pre-printed paper cannot be modified and last minute color changes are not possible. Color fastness to light is low. Lead time for paper preparation can cause problems in high fashion markets.