Transfer Sublimation Inkjet Printing: Investigating the Ink Properties, Dyes, Transfer Paper and Substrate

Digital printing is growing in textile industries due to excellent pattern quality, considerably little pollution, and specially fast response to the frequent shift of fashion market. On the other hand, polyester is one of the most important synthetic fibers with high consumption volume in textile industry. Ink jet printing on polyester textiles is performed either by direct or transfer approaches. The former needs chemical surface treatment, while the latter uses transfer paper. Transfer sublimation technology does not need any chemical or physical surface treatment or post-printing washing. The proper choice of dye and physical properties of the ink with respect to the print-head are of great importance in sublimation printing. In this paper, parameters such as printing inks market, printing process and its requirements, dyes and their properties, physical properties of inks, transfer paper, and the substrates are studied due to the high position of this technology in the textile industry.