Collaboration validates compatibility of innovative digital textile printing developments
KRONOS and Covestro demonstrate pigmented ink solutions for more sustainable textile printing
- Digital inkjet printing technology enables CO2 emission reductions by up to 95 percent
- Remaining challenges are the pigment ink formulation and the threat of sagging in connection with the application
- KRONOS and Covestro confirm the compatibility of their aqueous titanium dioxide pigment concentrate and waterborne polyurethane binders, respectively
- Ink manufacturers can benefit from several advanced formulations for white inks that enable excellent jettability in the process
The textile industry aims to reduce its environmental footprint. Switching from analog printing to digital printing using pigment inks can enable an 85 percent reduction in waste materials, a 55 percent lowering of energy consumption, a 60 percent reduction of water consumption, and a 95 percent decrease of CO2 emissions, and represents an opportunity to make textiles more sustainable. Digital textile printing also enables efficiency benefits such as shorter times to market and single-digit lot sizes produced close to end consumers. These advantages mean the adoption of inkjet printing is growing, but the technology will only reach its potential if it is supported by advanced formulations and carefully selected raw materials, specially designed for digital textile printing. Not all polyurethane binders are suitable.
KRONOS, a leading provider of titanium dioxide pigments, and Covestro, a global leading manufacturer of high-quality polymers, are collaborating to demonstrate how innovative new material solutions can support the uptake of digital inkjet printing on fabrics, advancing the textile industry’s sustainability transition. Following testing by the two raw material suppliers and validation by industry partners, the collaboration successfully demonstrates that Covestro’s waterborne INSQIN® portfolio of Impranil® polyurethane binders and Imprafix® cross-linkers is compatible with the white pigment dispersion KRONOS 9900 Digital White. No significant sedimentation was observed, and all formulations showed good stability even after four weeks of testing at 50°C.
As such, the proven compatibility of the four Covestro binders Impranil® DL 1602, Impranil® DL 1618, Impranil® DL 1620, and Impranil® DL 1623 with KRONOS 9900 Digital White is an exciting development, opening the door to increased uptake of inkjet fabric printing. Together, these ingredients create a suitable formulation for a reliable printing process.
A new state-of-the-art binder tackles sagging
Covestro also developed a new polyurethane dispersion, Impranil® DL 1606, specifically to address the particular problem of sagging – a well-known quality issue resulting from the relatively high ink loads needed for direct-to-foil (DTF) printing, which was identified in the context of the collaboration. This state-of-the-art binder offers excellent anti-sagging properties and enables high white ink loads, making it a winning choice for white pigment inks used in inkjet printing. Its performance in compatibility, stability, printability, and image quality has been validated by Covestro’s innovation partners, meaning textile manufacturers can reap the environmental and efficiency benefits of digital printing with full confidence in a high-quality result.
Dr. Torsten Pohl, Head of Global Textile Coatings, Covestro: "By joining forces with another raw materials supplier, we can address two key pigment ink challenges facing the growing digital inkjet printing market: formulation and sagging. Working together with KRONOS brings us another step closer to a more sustainable textile industry!"
Jürgen Bender, Global Market Development Manager, KRONOS: "Thanks to this collaboration, we’ve ensured that our innovative KRONOS 9900 Digital White aqueous pigment concentrate is compatible with Covestro’s INSQIN® polyurethane binders – ideal for direct-to-foil textile printing. Moreover, the new KRONOS development addresses the need in inkjet applications for highest stability in bottle, drum, printhead, in-flight and on-substrate. Together, we’ve cleared a barrier to the uptake of more sustainable digital printing technologies."
About KRONOS:
KRONOS is a leading global producer and marketer of value-added titanium dioxide pigments, or TiO2, a base industrial product used in a wide range of applications. We take pride in making the world brighter with the most effective whitening agent in the world – titanium dioxide (TiO2). TiO2 is a white pigment playing a key role in the production of paints and coatings, inks, plastics, papers, fibers as well as in specialties such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, glass, and ceramics. It has the highest opacity of all white pigments due to its exceptionally high refractive index and subsequent high light-scattering power. Applications using TiO2 are characterized by superior whiteness and brightness, a neutral tone, outstanding dispersibility and excellent tint reduction in colored media.
About Covestro:
Covestro is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. Covestro supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from Covestro are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, cosmetics and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself.
The company is committed to becoming fully circular and is striving to become climate neutral by 2035 (scope 1 and 2). Covestro generated sales of EUR 18 billion in fiscal 2022. At the end of 2022, the company had 50 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 18,000 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).
Forward-looking statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.