High Light Fastness Printing of Polyester - esma

High Light Fastness Printing of
Polyester
Opening new digital print markets
General Introduction
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Visible spectrum runs from Red to Violet
Red light longest, violet light shortest
Light shorter than 400 nm is called ultra violet (UV)
Light longer than 700 nm is called infra red (IR)
How does this impact color performance on polyester textiles?
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Light fastness on Polyester Textiles
explained
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Color fading and textile damage is caused by a small
amount of the Suns energy called UV radiation
UV accounts for only 2% of the Suns energy but
accounts for 70% of the damage
Printed polyester has grown significantly over past
years e.g. Signage
Polyester fibers are very resistant to abrasion,
weathering and sunlight however current ink
technologies used to digitally print it do not match
fiber performance.
Chemical structure of the disperse dyes used is critical
to performance.
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End Use applications for Polyester
Fibers
Standard Textiles
Established markets (dye sublimation inks)
•  Soft signage / Visual communication
•  Apparel / Fashion
•  Sportswear
Technical Textiles
Emerging markets (direct to fabric inks)
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Home Textiles (curtains, decorative)
Automotive interiors
Sun umbrellas
Outdoor furnishings
Outdoor awnings
Outdoor flags and banners
Color fastness to light & Heat key success factors for technical textiles
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Color Fading Scale 1- 5 according to
end use
1 – Apparel/fashion fabrics
2 – Indoor signage/sportswear
3 – Indoor textiles (curtains)- protected by
window glass (to some extent) and exposed
to sunlight a few hours per day
4 – Automotive Textiles – exposed to longer
times in sunlight and to temperature
5 – Outdoor textiles (awnings,sun umberellas)
are exposed to direct sunlight worst condition
for fading and fiber degradation
Only 1 & 2 can be printed successfully with standard sublimation inks.
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Why not use pigments on PES?
•  Poor coloristic properties, no «pop»
effect
•  Pigments are glued to fiber via binders
causing harsh fabric handle / tackiness /
stifness
•  Poor crocking / rub fastness
•  Poor fiber penetration
•  Poor abrasion resistance (automotive)
•  Binder containing inks tend to be more
difficult to jet
Applications limited more to non contact PES end uses
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Todays PES ink of choice Sublimation
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Most widely used textile ink today
Low molecular weight
Easy to apply via transfer paper
Acceptable color fastness on
−  Indoor banners
−  Apparel and sportswear
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Not suitable for more technical textile applications
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Poor light fastness properties
Off tone color fading
Low heat stability
Poor weatherability fastness
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Direct to Fabric «Teratop»
disperse inks
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Larger molecule / differentiated / patented chemistry
Particles diffuse into PES fibers at high temp
More difficult to process than sublimation inks
Exhibit excellent color fastness properties
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High Light fastness (UV)
On tone fading
High heat resistance – non migrating
Excellent weatherability fastness
Meets brands specifications
The only solution to print technical textiles to tight color
fastness specifications
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Fastness Tests
Table of most common lightfastness test methods
ISO 105 B02
Irradiance
AATCC 16E
2)
(Europe)
( USA)
1,0 W/m2 (420nm)
1,2 W/m2 (420nm)
Toyota 3)
TS L9900G met.1
Art. Weathering
ISO 4892-2A
0,55 W/m2 (340nm)
FAKRA 4)
VDA 75202
1,2-1,3
(420nm)
SAE J 1885
(USA)
0,55 W/m2
(340nm)
Black standard
temperature
Black panel
temperature
Test chamber
temperature
Rel.Humidity
Exposure conditions
approx. UV limit
(1% of irradiance
at 420nm)
Apparatus in Basel
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~ 48 °C
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65°C
100 °C
ca. 95°C
45 °C
63 °C
89°C
45°C
ca. 92-96°C
89°C
31-34°C
43 °C
62°C
35-38°C
65°C
62°C
~ 50 %
30 %
~ 50 %
65%
~ 20 %
~ 50%
matches
conditions
behind glass
more UV than
matches
behind glass,
conditions
less than outdoor behind glass
matches to wet
outdoor
conditions
more UV than
behind glass,
less than
outdoor
substantially
more UV than
outdoor
310-315 nm
300-305 nm
310-315 nm
290-295 nm
300-305 nm 6)
280-285 nm
Atlas Ci35 IR/
Sodalime
Atlas Ci35
Boro / Sodalime
Atlas Ci35 5)
Quartz/Boro/WG
Atlas Ci35
cira/Sodalime/
WG
Atlas Ci35 6)
Boro / Sodalime
Atlas Ci35
Quartz / Boro
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Fastness Test
Xenonlight
Articles that are exposured to light
Test conditions : Temperature 35°C / Humidity 50%
Sublimation ink
Huntsman TERATOP Inks
Pigment Inks
Sublimation Inks
Huntsman TERATOP Inks
Blue Scale
Target : 7
Exposure time 336 h
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Fastness Test
Artificial Weathering
Outdoor articles
Test conditions : Temperature 35°C / Humidity 65% / Dry:Rain 18:102 min
Sublimation ink
Huntsman TERATOP Inks
Grey Scale
Target : 4
Exposure time 200 h
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Fastness Test
FAKRA (Hot Light)
Automotive interior
Test conditions: Temperature 65°C / Humidity 20% / more UV light / one cycle 72 h
Sublimation ink
Huntsman TERATOP Inks Pigment Inks
Sublimation Inks
FAKRA 5x
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Huntsman TERATOP Inks
Grey Scale
Target : 4
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Automotive interior applications case study
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90 mio cars expected to be sold in 2015
Fabric interiors today are plain dyed or yarn dyed and
woven, 10-15 m fabric / car
Digital print ideal to personalise and simplify process
Seats, belts, headliners, panels, sound absorption all PES
End use ripe for
conversion
Only high tech dyes
can meet the stringent
specs demanded by the
auto makers
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Summary
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Technical textiles will be the next «big» inkjet revolution in
−  Automotive interiors
−  Outdoor Textiles
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Durability, color fastness, meeting brand specifications
and application know how essential to drive market
growth
Machines already developed to print the end use
applications,
Pigments not the solution for PES technical textiles due to
poor color durability, poor coloristic values, fabric handle
Brand & retailers will play an important role in the market
conversion.
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