Sustainable Enhancement of Aesthetic Values of Woolens by Digital Printing

Objectives of the Project

• Developing precoating system for digital printing on wool for controlled absorption, minimum spreading & sharp print pattern.
• Formulating Acid dye, Reactive Dye & Pigment Ink systems for digital printing on Ink-Jet Printing systems.
• Developing print -dry steam or print-dry-cure process as per the colorant component.
• Devising wash off sequence as per the ink system for fault free printing.

Project Progress :

• Fabric Procurement: Wool and wool-blend fabrics were procured from HP Singh Pvt Ltd and Sanjay Shah India Pvt Ltd.
• Capex Procurement: A state-of-the-art Ink Jet Digital Printing Machine [DC-S1] was procured from Jaysynth Dyestuff (India) Ltd to facilitate the printing process.
• Precoating Formulation: Preparation and optimization of precoating formulations for wool and woolen blends were conducted to enhance substrate adhesion and print quality.
• Fabric Testing: Precoated fabrics underwent rigorous physical textile testing, including tensile strength evaluation and washing durability assessment.
• Ink Formulation: Various ink formulations including Reactive Ink, Acid Ink, Pigment Ink, and Basic Ink were developed to cater to different printing requirements.
• Ink Absorption Properties: The formulated inks demonstrated excellent adsorption properties on textile substrates, ensuring vibrant and durable prints.
• Ink Optimization: Optimization of the formulated digital printing inks was carried out, followed by comparative testing with commercial inks to assess performance.
• Quality Testing: Parameters such as viscosity, surface tension, pH, total solids, heat aging stability, foaming and moisture content were rigorously tested to ensure ink quality and stability.
• Biodegradability Testing: Biodegradability testing using OECD 302B Zahn- Wellens test (28 Days) was conducted on developed Reactive Ink, Acid Ink, Pigment Ink, and Basic Ink formulations. Results showed superior biodegradability compared to commercially available inks.
• Ink Trials: Ink trials were conducted on various wool-based textiles including 100% wool shirting fabric, 60/40 polyester-wool shirting fabric, 100% woolen shawls, and 100% woolen stoles with varying GSM (grams per square meter).

Proof of Concept:

• Presented a poster at the International Conference on Sustainable Development 2023, held virtually on September 19, 2023, showcasing research on "Surface Modification of Wool and Wool Blends for Digital Printings.”
• Participated and showcased our research at the Bharat Tex 2024 event, highlighting advancements in digital printing on wool and wool-blend textiles.
• Filed a Provisional Patent for "Digital Printing Ink Composition for Wool Based Fabrics" with Application No. 202421007998, filed on February 6, 2024, aiming to protect innovative formulations developed for inkjet printing on wool substrates.