The Surface You Print On Part 3 Fabrics like, Spandex, rayon, bamboo and nylon.

Welcome To Cora’s Corner, where every month I am going to help you with your artwork issues.  This month’s discussion is; Garment surfaces Part 3.

Spandex, Lycra or elastane is a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity. It is stronger and more durable than natural rubber. It is a polyester-polyurethane copolymer that was invented in 1958 by chemist Joseph Shivers at DuPont’s Benger Laboratory in Waynesboro, Virginia.[2]  When introduced in 1962, it revolutionized many areas of the clothing industry.

Because of its elasticity and strength (stretching up to five times its length), spandex has been incorporated into a wide range of garments, especially in skin-tight garments. A benefit of spandex is its significant strength and elasticity and its ability to return to the original shape after stretching and faster drying than ordinary fabrics.

Printing on spandex presents several challenges. The ink needs to adhere and stretch with the fabric. The artwork needs to be bold enough to handle the image stretching with the fabric. Inks with stretch additive or silicone work best.

Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulose fiber. It is made from purified cellulose, primarily from wood pulp, which is chemically converted into a soluble compound. It is then dissolved and forced through a spinneret to produce filaments which are chemically solidified, resulting in synthetic fibers of nearly pure cellulose. Because rayon is manufactured from naturally occurring polymers, it is considered a semi-synthetic fiber.

Rayon is a versatile fiber and is widely claimed to have the same comfort properties as natural fibers, although the drape and slipperiness of rayon textiles are often more like nylon. It can imitate the feel and texture of silk, wool, cotton and linen. The fibers are easily dyed in a wide range of colors. Rayon fabrics are soft, smooth, cool, comfortable, and highly absorbent, but they do not insulate body heat, making them ideal for use in hot and humid climates.

Printing on rayon depends on how it is knitted. Regular plastisol with additives works best with rayon.

 Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as aliphatic polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont’s research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station. Nylon is one of the most commonly used polymers.  Nylon was intended to be a synthetic replacement for silk and substituted for it in many different products after silk became scarce during World WarII. It replaced silk in military applications such as parachutes and flak vests, and was used in many types of vehicle tires. Nylon fibers are used in many applications, including clothes fabrics, bridal veils, package paper, carpets, musical strings, pipes, tents, and rope.

Printing on nylon is particularly tricky. The image needs to be bold because of the rough surface. The fabric is sensitive to heat and melts easily. The printer must use ink specially formulated for nylon fabric. The ink is a 2 part system consisting of ink and a catalyst to help the ink adhere to the nylon surface. The catalyst hardened the ink using heat, air and time. Never mix more ink than you intend to use. Don’t leave ink in the screens or it will harden in the mesh and the screen is no longer usable.

Bamboo fabrics are cloth, yarn, and clothing made out of bamboo fibers.  While historically used only for structural elements, such as bustles and the ribs of corsets, in recent years a range of technologies have been developed allowing bamboo fiber to be used in a wide range of textile and fashion applications. Modern bamboo clothing is clothing made from either 100% bamboo yarn or a blend of bamboo and cotton yarn. The bamboo yarn can also be blended with other textile fibers such as hemp or even spandex.

Bamboo is extremely resilient and durable as a fiber. In studies comparing it to cotton and polyester, it is found to have a high breaking tenacity, better moisture wicking properties, and better moisture absorption. In superseding these other fibers in these various areas, supporters of bamboo fiber products and goods tout it as more Eco-friendly than cotton and polyester.

Printing on bamboo is like printing on cotton unless mixed with other fibers. Printers can use water-based or plastisol inks.

This 3 part series only touch the surface of what fabrics are out there. Do your homework before you print.

Until Next Month,

Cora Kromer
cora@qdigitizing.com