It is common knowledge that
Zinc Formaldehyde Sulfoxylate is widely used in the textile industry for discharge printing. But not many people are aware of the advantages of using ZFS for the process. However, in order to fully understand these benefits, it is important to first become familiar with the concept of the process of discharging and its application in the printing diverse fabrics. A basic knowledge of these concepts is also vital for professionals involved in textile printing and desire silky soft, breathable, permeable and brilliant patterns on fabrics with dark hues.
Put in simple words, discharging is a chemical reaction that occurs under temperatures greater than 180o F, in the presence of water, and removes the ability of specific dyes to reflect color. However, it is important to remember that the reaction is successful only with those few natural fiber dyes that possess dischargeable properties. Also, different dyes have different discharging capacities and garment manufacturers generally use standard code to identify the level of discharging for every dye. The use of plastisol underbase in textile printing has several benefits which make it quite popular in the industry. Having been in use for long, most textile printers are not only well aware of the various types and properties of plastisols but also have a good know-how of the various techniques required for their proper use.
One of the most commonly used plastisol dischargeable systems used for printing vivid, dense colors on dark garment is DSPCH-1000, in which Zinc Formaldehyde Sulfoxylate is the most essential ingredient. For best results, printers are required to add 6% of ZFS powder, by weight to DSPCH-1000 and stir the mixture until it dissolves completely. It is also good to prepare only that quantity of the mix which can be used up within 24 hours after preparation.
Over the past few years, environmentalists have been raising concerns about the use of ZFS in textile printing and its negative effects on ecology. However, there are no regulations banning the release of Zinc Formaldehyde Sulfoxylate into water. Furthermore, it has been observed that discharging reaction does not cause the liberate formaldehyde from the composition at any stage of the process.
