Improving the printability and coloring performance of cotton and polyester fabrics and their blends using polyvinyl alcohol and polyacrylamide via different printing techniques

Textile printing uses numerous methods and equipment to impart ink to textile surfaces. Screen printing is the most popular technology for big print runs because to its productivity, cost savings, and ease of use. Short-run digital ink jet printing is speedier, flexible, innovative, and environmentally friendly. It also has enhanced visual effects, print format flexibility, and print quality control. Textile finishing turns woven or knitted fabric into a useable product. Bio-treatment with polyvinyl alcohol and polyacrylamide can improve color uptake and absorbency. This research achieved significant breakthroughs and innovative findings in the improvement of textile printability using polymer treatments: a) Enhanced color strength and fixation: Pre-treatment with PVA and PAAM polymers substantially increased the color strength (K/S values) and dye fixation of printed fabrics compared to untreated samples across multiple fabric types and printing techniques, b) Optimized polymer concentrations: A 10 % polymer concentration was found to be optimal, providing the best balance of improved printability without excessive polymer buildup, c) Efficacious for various printing techniques: The polymer treatments enhanced printability for silk screen, inkjet, and transfer printing methods, demonstrating versatility, d) Analysis of polymer-fabric interactions: The study elucidated the mechanisms by which the polymers interact with fabric surfaces and dyes to improve color uptake and fixation, e) Improved fastness properties: Treated fabrics exhibited superior wash, light, rubbing and perspiration fastness compared to untreated samples, and f) Maintained fabric physical properties: The polymer treatments did not significantly degrade important fabric mechanical and physical properties.