Construction of Alkali-Resistant Disperse Dye Ink and Its Application in Direct Inkjet Printing on Polyester Fabrics

Abstract

In response to the green development trend of the textile and dyeing industry, it is essential to reduce environmental pollution and resource waste during the inkjet printing process. In this study, alkali-resistant disperse dye inks with high color fastness and stability were prepared using C.I. Disperse Blue 291, dispersant 85A, alcohol ether carboxylate, fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol ether, and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The performance of the prepared disperse dye ink was systematically tested and analyzed to determine the optimal formulation. The impact of each component in the ink on its physicochemical properties was investigated, along with the ink's alkali resistance, printing performance, and fixation process. The experimental results demonstrate that the formulated disperse dye ink exhibits excellent performance under alkaline conditions, enabling direct inkjet printing on polyester fabrics with good fixation. Specifically, after treatment with 2.5 wt% NaHCO₃ solution, the ink retained over 90% of its K/S value on polyester fabric. Under the curing conditions of 200 °C and 90 s, the printed fabric exhibited a relatively higher K/S value. Additionally, the inkjet-printed fabric showed excellent fastness and clear printed patterns. This study provides foundational research data and accumulated experience for the development of alkali-resistant disperse/active inkjet printing inks in the future.