Pigment and disperse printing of needlepunched polyethylene terephthalate nonwovens

Needle-punched polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nonwovens of three mass densities viz., 80 g/m2, 140 g/m2 and 200 g/m2 were printed with a range of disperse dyes and pigments on an automatic flatbed screen printing machine. The disperse-printed nonwovens were thermo-fixed at various temperatures and time intervals. The printed nonwovens were reduction-cleared with sodium dithionite and sodium hydroxide each through an exhaust technique. The nonwovens were also printed with pigments in the presence of a range of binders having different chemistries for various curing time intervals. The control and printed nonwovens were tested for colorimetric, print and crock fastness properties. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tear strength and bending length were measured to account for any structural changes.