Authors S.F. Harlapur, N.R. Airani, S.S. Gobbi
In this world with speedy change in taste and fashion of generations, at present the printing is most noteworthy process utilized to beautify the textile materials. Printing is an art used to add a varied pattern on a piece of woven fabric by using gorgeous vibrant colors. Textile printing is the branch of textile wet processing industry and is becoming widely accepted technique for all fibers, varieties of fabrics and garments. Fundamentally, printing is a type of coloring, in which the colors are applied to a particular area rather than whole fabric. The resultant multicolored patterns have beautiful and artistic effects, which enhances the value of the cloth more than that of the plain dyed. To confine the coloring matter to the design area, it is pasted with the help of a thickening agent. A successful print involves correct color, sharpness of mark, levelness, good hand, and efficient use of dye. All these factors depend on the type of thickener used. Thickeners used in textile printing are high molecular weight viscous compounds gave a sticky paste with water, which impart stickiness and plasticity to the printing paste. These thickeners facilitate to preserve the design outlines without spreading even under high pressure. The main purpose of thickeners in textile industry is to hold or adhere the dye particles on the desired areas of the fabric until the dye transferred onto the fabric surface and its fixation got over. Thickener will provide the required viscosity to the printing pastes, prevent the premature reactions between the chemicals of the print paste and helps to seize the ingredients of the print paste on the fabrics. The thickener must be stable and compatible with the dyes and dyeing auxiliaries used.
