Fabrics and, obviously, the yarns they are made of, have to be capable of withstanding the combination of the three elements involved in dye-sublimation printing:
TEMPERATURE, SPEED and PRESSURE. Together, these enable the transfer machine (a calender or press) or the direct-to-textile printer, to create the ideal printing conditions.
In fact, a temperature of at least 180° is required for
1) the ink printed on the card or directly on the fabric to go from a solid to a gas
2) so the fibres open up and encapsulate the gas
3) in the subsequent cooling phase, for the ink to become solid again and be fixed permanently onto the yarn, offering the guarantee of a solid and mechanically-durable result.
Since pressure is a variable element that is hardly marginal, only synthetic yarns are able to ensure their fibres will open for the relative “absorption” of the dye. What’s more, the fabric is subject to a significant level of thermal shock since up to 215° may be reached with a speed of approximately 0.50 metres per minute in order to get the best results in terms of the transfer of dye onto some products.
The choice of the best synthetic fibre to be used for dye-sublimation printing definitely “falls” on
| Polyester |
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on account of its chemical make-up, which guarantees an excellent performance, and also because it is made in massive industrial production lots, meaning accessible prices for a material that is readily available. Such conditions are generally not available for the few other synthetic fibres that can be used for dye-sublimation printing.
The final application will determine the type of finishing process for the yarn and the subsequent processes, starting from the weaving.