A custom ink-jet printing system using a novel pretreatment method

A low-cost and environmental-friendly direct dye-based ink-jet printing system was developed. A novel ink-jet pretreatment method was employed, in which the cationic fixing agent, Matexil FC-ER, was applied as the colourless fixing ink and applied only on image areas of the fabric by ink-jet printer. It was found that this new pretreatment method could more effectively enhance the colour strength and improve the wash fastness (greyscale >= 3) when compared with traditional exhaust application. The cross-staining of non-image areas of fabric was also apparently decreased using this new method. The light fastness of ink-jet pretreated samples was slightly reduced as the presence of Matexil FC-ER made dyes more sensitive to light.