Introduction to Common Printing Technologies
In the field of textile printing, various technologies occupy different market shares due to their respective characteristics, among which DTF printing, heat transfer printing, as well as traditional screen printing and digital direct – to – garment printing are the most common.
DTF Printing (Direct to Film)
DTF printing is a new type of printing technology that has developed rapidly in recent years. Its core process is to first print the pattern directly on a special PET film, then evenly sprinkle hot – melt adhesive powder on the surface of the printed pattern, dry it to make the adhesive powder firmly combine with the pattern, and finally transfer the pattern on the film together with the adhesive layer to the fabric surface through high – temperature ironing. This technology does not need to make a screen like traditional screen printing, can quickly realize small – batch and multi – variety personalized customization, and has strong adaptability to substrates. It can be well adapted to both natural fibers such as cotton, linen and silk, and synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon.
Heat transfer printing technology is mainly divided into sublimation heat transfer printing and heat – sticking transfer printing. Sublimation heat transfer printing uses the sublimation characteristics of disperse dyes at high temperatures to transfer the pattern printed on the transfer paper to fabrics such as polyester fibers. The pattern has bright colors, a strong sense of hierarchy and good air permeability, and is very suitable for printing on sportswear, flags and other products. Heat – sticking transfer printing pastes the transfer film with patterns (usually including an adhesive layer) on the surface of the substrate through high temperature and high pressure. It is suitable for various materials, including metals, plastics, wood, etc., and is widely used in the fields of clothing, gifts, household products and so on.
Other Common Technologies
Screen printing is a time – honored printing technology. It prints ink onto the substrate through the hollow pattern on the screen. It has the advantages of thick ink layer, high color saturation and good washability, but the cost of making the screen is high, so it is more suitable for mass production. Digital direct – to – garment printing directly prints the pattern on the fabric through an inkjet printer, eliminating the intermediate transfer link. The pattern has high precision, rich colors and good environmental protection. However, it has high requirements for the pre – treatment and post – treatment of the fabric, and is currently widely used in the field of high – end clothing and personalized customization.
Application Characteristics of TPU in Various Technologies
Application Characteristics in DTF Printing
Yantai Linghua New Material Company currently has a variety of TPU product categories. In DTF printing, it mainly plays a role in the form of hot – melt adhesive powder, and its application characteristics are very prominent. Firstly, it has excellent bonding performance and a wide range of applications. After melting, TPU hot – melt adhesive powder can form a strong bonding force with the surface of various fabrics. Whether it is elastic fabric or non – elastic fabric, it can ensure that the pattern is not easy to fall off, solving the problem that traditional adhesive powder has poor bonding to some special fabrics. Secondly, it has good compatibility with ink. TPU can fully integrate with DTF special ink, which not only can enhance the stability of the ink, but also can improve the color expression of the pattern, making the printed pattern more bright and lasting in color. In addition, it has strong flexibility and elasticity adaptability. TPU itself has good flexibility and elasticity. After being transferred to the fabric, it can stretch with the fabric, without affecting the hand feel and wearing comfort of the fabric, which is particularly important for products that need frequent activities such as sportswear.
Application Characteristics in Heat Transfer Printing
In heat transfer printing technology, TPU has various application forms and different characteristics. When used as a transfer film substrate, it has good thermal stability and ductility. In the high – temperature and high – pressure transfer process, the TPU film will not shrink excessively or crack, which can ensure the integrity and accuracy of the pattern. At the same time, its smooth surface is conducive to the clear transfer of the pattern. When TPU resin is added to the ink, it can significantly improve the physical properties of the pattern. The protective film formed by TPU makes the pattern have excellent wear resistance, scratch resistance and chemical corrosion resistance, and can still maintain a good appearance after many washings. In addition, it is easy to achieve functional effects. By modifying the TPU material, transfer products with functions such as waterproof, UV – proof, fluorescence and color change can be made to meet the market demand for special effects.
Application Characteristics in Other Technologies
In screen printing, TPU can be used as an additive in ink. It can improve the film – forming property and adhesion of the ink. Especially for some substrates with smooth surfaces, such as plastics and leather, adding TPU can improve the adhesion of the ink and enhance the flexibility of the ink layer to avoid cracking. In digital direct – to – garment printing, although the application of TPU is relatively less, studies have shown that adding an appropriate amount of TPU to the fabric pretreatment solution before printing can improve the absorption and color fixation of the fabric to the ink, make the pattern color more bright, and improve the washability, providing the possibility for the application of digital direct – to – garment printing on more fabrics.
Post time: Aug-11-2025