Sodium alginate and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose hierarchical control of surface tension on silk fabrics for clean and efficient inkjet printing.

Silk is widely utilized in high-end fashion apparel, home textiles and other fields due to its excellent comfort and air permeability and moisture permeability. However, inkjet printing on silk typically requires two printings on the front and back side to obtain a good color performance, leading to high process cost and low efficiency. Herein, clean and efficient inkjet printing is achieved using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose/sodium alginate (HPMC/SA) graded to regulate the surface tension of silk. In comparison to traditional inkjet printing process, the process utilizing HPMC/SA graded treatment eliminates the need for secondary inkjet printing, reduces energy consumption, and lowers the per-printing cost by 47 %. Meanwhile, this approach also significantly improved the utilization of reactive dyestuff ink, enhancing the uniformity and clarity on both sides of the printed silk patterns. Therefore, the development of a novel inkjet printing process with graded regulation of fabric surface tension is highly significant for the green and sustainable development of the textile printing and dyeing industry.