Xerographic printing of textiles: Polymeric toners and their performance

Xerographic printing of a number of common fabrics was investigated. The ro le of the polymeric binder used for the formulation of the commercially ava ilable and custom-made toners was investigated. Fabric performance tests (c rockfastness), friction tests, and morphological investigations using scann ing electron microscopy were performed. The intricate relations of toner an d fabric properties with the results of an important overall industrial per formance test for fabrics (crockfastness) are discussed. Both cohesive and adhesive toner failure can be important. Improved toner performance was ach ieved with a thermoset polymer as the toner binder. However, curing times f or the thermoset polymer used are not sufficiently short for high-speed ind ustrial printing. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.