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MIDLAND, MICHIGAN, USA – Dow Corning Corporation, a leading supplier
of innovative silicone solutions for the textile industry, has launched a new
silicone textile ink for manual screen printing. Dow Corning® 9601 Textile
Printing Ink allows apparel manufacturers to capture the full potential of the
market for high-quality, screen-printed clothing with a durable,
environmentally friendly ink that provides a semi-gloss finish, good
elongation, excellent color fastness and a soft, non-tacky handle.
“Manual screen printing technology represents a large growth opportunity for
manufacturers of sportswear and casual apparel,” says Jenny Geng, Asia Textiles
Marketing Manager. “However, PVC (plastisol), PU and PA inks have some serious
drawbacks – such as inferior wash and weather durability, poor hand feel and
tackiness – that limit their use, particularly in high-end apparel
applications.”
These products also often contain solvents and have other negative
environmental effects. To counter these problems, some printing mills have
tried using silicone printing materials because of their good washing
durability, hand feel, elongation properties and environmental friendliness.
“But those silicone products had their own set of issues, too,” explains Geng.
“Tackiness, high viscosity, stiffness and the inability to create low-gloss
finishes still meant the apparel manufacturer would end up with a less than
ideal product.”
9601 Textile Printing Ink delivers a set of features and benefits that
surmounts these challenges for the first time:
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Good hand feel: Soft, non-sticky handle with no blocking problem upon
folding
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Excellent durability: Wash- and weather-resistance
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Color fastness: No color migration, even between red and white
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Improved fashion appearance: Semi-gloss finish with no creasing
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High elongation: Suitable for fabric with 15 to 20 percent Lycra®
content
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Fast cure: Skin cures in 3 to 6 seconds at skin temperatures between
100-130°C (212-266°F)
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Operation-friendly: Suitable viscosity and thixotropy for manual screen
printing
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Easily pigmented: A base/catalyst system with a minor to major part of less
than 10 percent
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Environmentally sound: Does not contain organotin, phthalate, formaldehyde,
PVC or solvent
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Reduced total cost of use: Lower cycle time and better coverage
According to Geng, 9601 Textile Printing Ink is suitable for manual screen
printing processes on most natural and synthetic fabrics including elastic
fabrics. Possible applications include jerseys, jackets, hats, gloves, bathing
apparel, shirts, sleepwear, children’s clothing and undergarments. Because of
its water repellency and good adhesion, the printed and cured fabric is able to
pass 10 washing cycles – five cycles at 40°C (104°F) plus five cycles at 60°C
(140°F) – with no separation or deformation.
Dow Corning Textiles will offer the benefits of its globally recognized
Powered by Dow Corning® ingredient branding program to help promote products
using 9601 Textile Printing Ink. For example, a unique hangtag explaining the
benefits of the ink will be available for manufacturer use.
“Dow Corning has a well-deserved reputation as a trusted ally and innovative
solutions provider to the textile industry,” Geng says. “We have outstanding
materials and expert technologies that can differentiate a product in many ways
– like increased functionality, versatility, performance and protection. 9601
Textile Printing Ink is just one example of how we use proactive, creative
thinking to develop products that meet our customers’ needs exactly.”
To learn more about 9601 Textile Printing Ink, go to www.dowcorning.com/screenprinting.
Dow Corning Textiles (www.dowcorning.com/textiles or www.dowcorning.com.cn) offers a
comprehensive selection of innovative silicon-based performance enhancers and
process aids for textiles, leather and nonwovens. In addition to materials, the
company provides supportive services and solutions tailored to the specific
business needs of the global textile industry.
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