An eco-friendly approach: effect of fixation time on colour and comfort properties of digital printed fabric

Abstract

This study will examine how digital printing affects clothing comfort on knitted fabrics from different raw materials. Garments significantly affect the heat exchange between the human body and the environment. Therefore, consumers prefer thermally balanced and effective moisture-controlled products in the selection of clothing. Air permeability is also important in explaining the comfort performance of the product in the textile industry. On the other hand, digital printing machines have become the centre of attention of consumers as a print type on which the desired pattern can be printed on the chosen fabric and more ecological, faster, and economical. However different printing processes can change the comfort characteristics of the garments. In this study, single jersey knitted fabrics 100% Ne 12/1 cotton, 100% Ne 30/1 cotton, and Ne 12/1 70% cotton + 30% Hemp were produced. Raw materials were bleached and singed, then coloured with digital printing. After that, air permeability, bursting strength, stiffness, ironing fastness, and SEM analyses were applied to samples when the results were determined, it was seen that heavier fabric will have higher stiffness. Also, thicker yarns have higher bursting strength. It follows that the cotton-hemp blended fibres (PK) have high unevenness, and the bursting strength of the fabrics produced from this raw material is lower than cotton fabrics (P12). Similarly, since the thin-thick place values of cotton-hemp blended yarns are high, porosity is one of the most important factors affecting air permeability in fabrics. This porous structure also increased the air permeability of the fabric.