Author Topic: Fixer in Discharge mixes  (Read 1602 times)

Offline ZooCity

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Fixer in Discharge mixes
« on: January 13, 2014, 04:10:47 PM »
In phase 558 of WB/DC ink development around here we have conceded to start using additives aside from water in our mixes.  Currently we use Matsui Softener XA-1, CCI Retarder in place of the water we used to add for thinning and we've seen great improvements on press using this in the CCI WB and DC and Sericol DC inks. 

Now I'm thinking about adding fixer to the DC mixes, maybe WB too.  We use the CCI W-Base for WB and D-Base for DC so we're already doing all we can there with the bases. Long term wash tests with WB/DC have been strong on most garments but I'm seeing fibrilation on the very tips of the fibers with certain fabrics after 10-20 wash/dry cycles.  It really just appears to be happening on the fiber tips and I know there's no perfect print here that has it all but damned if I won't try and develop it anyway.  Oddly enough, it doesn't seem to be related to penetration.

I'm wondering if anyone has used fixer, such as Matsui Fixer N, successfully to combat this.  My understanding is that using fixer is essentially putting in additional binder?  Does it put a shelf life on the ink when used?  And, has anyone been able to use Fixer N to increase dryer throughput when it's desperately needed?


Offline Evo

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Re: Fixer in Discharge mixes
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2014, 02:17:05 AM »

I'm wondering if anyone has used fixer, such as Matsui Fixer N, successfully to combat this.  My understanding is that using fixer is essentially putting in additional binder?  Does it put a shelf life on the ink when used?  And, has anyone been able to use Fixer N to increase dryer throughput when it's desperately needed?

Yes, not really, and yes.

When I had my own shop it was 100% Matsui. I would "pre-fix" batches of ink with fixer N to make the final mixing go faster. Never had an issue with pot life, but then again I'd burn through the mixed inks pretty quick.

It helped greatly with wash-fastness with my tiny dryer.

Like any other additives, mix it all up before adding the discharge agent to avoid making unintentional batches of cottage cheese.
There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse, and sell a little more cheaply. The person who buys on price alone is this man's lawful prey.
John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)