Printing — Process Challenge

Pigment Printing Binder & Fixer System

Print houses buy self-crosslinking acrylic emulsion binders plus fixers and ammonia-free crosslinkers in bulk for pigment printing on cotton and blends. The binder, not dye affinity, holds insoluble pigment to the fiber, making it a recurring high-tonnage consumable
Why It Matters
Print houses buy self-crosslinking acrylic emulsion binders plus fixers and ammonia-free crosslinkers in bulk for pigment printing on cotton and blends. The binder, not dye affinity, holds insoluble pigment to the fiber, making it a recurring high-tonnage consumable
Solution Approach

Print houses buy self-crosslinking acrylic emulsion binders plus fixers and ammonia-free crosslinkers in bulk for pigment printing on cotton and blends. The binder, not dye affinity, holds insoluble pigment to the fiber, making it a recurring high-tonnage consumable RawSource supplies the base chemicals that go into these programs. We can help with product selection, grade matching, and sourcing from multiple origins for supply security.

Typical Processing Workflow
1
Substrate & Process Assessment
Identify the fiber and process stage (pretreatment, dyeing, finishing) and the performance, hand, and compliance targets.
2
Auxiliary Selection
Match surfactants, wetting and dispersing agents, softeners, fixatives, or pH and sequestering agents to the substrate and bath chemistry.
3
Lab Dip & Dosing
Confirm dose and sequence on a lab dip or pad trial, checking levelness, fastness, hand, and bath stability.
4
Production Validation
Verify reproducibility, fastness, and effluent compliance at scale, and set the recipe and packaging for production.
Recommended Chemistries (4)
Self-Crosslinking Acrylic Emulsion Binder
Forms a flexible film that mechanically anchors insoluble pigment to the fabric surface and self-crosslinks on cure for wash and rub fastness
Full Details
Polyurethane (PU)
CAS 9009-54-5
Polymers & Resins
Base polymer for fabric coating
Film-forming binder/elastomer that adds flexibility and crock fastness to the pigment-print film; already in catalog
Physical Description: Solid
Full Details
Formaldehyde-Free Fixer / Crosslinker
Crosslinks binder carboxyl groups to raise cure density and fastness without releasing formaldehyde or ammonia
Full Details
Polyacrylic Acid (PAA)
CAS 9003-01-4
Polymers & Resins
Synthetic thickener
Anionic dispersant that stabilizes the pigment dispersion in the print paste (dispersant role, not a film binder); already in catalog
Full Details

Need help selecting the right chemistry?

Our team can help with grade selection, dosage guidance, and multi-origin sourcing.

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