Author Topic: How to remove transfer powder residue from Nylon/Lycra material  (Read 1635 times)

Offline ericheartsu

  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 3540
We just heat pressed screenprinted transfers onto some Lululemon Nylon/Lycra garments (strech leggings and jackets) but some items were left with the residue of the transfer powder/crystals. We were able to get majority of the residue off by wetting the area a bit and then re-heat pressing with some craft paper on top of the design. Are there any other tried and true ways of removing that residue? Especially off of Nylon/Lycra material. I've attached some photos of what I'm dealing with - These are some of the worse ones. 

By the way these are done with water based ink! Not sure if that will make a difference.
« Last Edit: March 31, 2017, 12:41:02 PM by ericheartsu »
Night Owls
Waterbased screen printing and promo products.
www.nightowlsprint.com 281.741.7285


Offline aauusa

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 826
Re: How to remove transfer powder residue from Nylon/Lycra material
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2017, 12:37:49 PM »
we use letter off from stahls.   we use a small rag.  be careful not to get it by the ink will cause it to smear.

Offline mimosatexas

  • !!!
  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 4221
  • contributor
Re: How to remove transfer powder residue from Nylon/Lycra material
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2017, 07:00:37 PM »
That's pretty bad. Why was there so much powder in those areas to begin with?

Offline ericheartsu

  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 3540
Re: How to remove transfer powder residue from Nylon/Lycra material
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2017, 07:10:18 PM »
That's pretty bad. Why was there so much powder in those areas to begin with?

We've been struggling getting consistent crystal/powder coating since we started printing HSA transfers.

The sheets have been sifted through a container box, and then flicked to try and remove excess powder before curing.
Night Owls
Waterbased screen printing and promo products.
www.nightowlsprint.com 281.741.7285

Offline mimosatexas

  • !!!
  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 4221
  • contributor
Re: How to remove transfer powder residue from Nylon/Lycra material
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2017, 07:14:22 PM »
Something sticky is on that area of the paper though. It would stick otherwise or at least it shouldnt. I usually grab opposing corners and sort of snap the sheet to get off excess, but it should be random and very little amounts being held by humidity or static. That looks like actual moisture or adhesive of some kind on the sheet. Is the back of the emulsion getting wet from humidity and the hsa inks some how?

Offline ericheartsu

  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 3540
Re: How to remove transfer powder residue from Nylon/Lycra material
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2017, 07:28:43 PM »
nah, sheet is tottally dry, that's just from the crystals.
Night Owls
Waterbased screen printing and promo products.
www.nightowlsprint.com 281.741.7285

Offline Frog

  • Administrator
  • Ludicrous Speed Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13980
  • Docendo discimus
Re: How to remove transfer powder residue from Nylon/Lycra material
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2017, 08:31:04 PM »
nah, sheet is tottally dry, that's just from the crystals.

But they seem to hold in a real pattern that kinda' follows the general shape of the design.
Were they stacked?
That rug really tied the room together, did it not?

Offline Frog

  • Administrator
  • Ludicrous Speed Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13980
  • Docendo discimus
Re: How to remove transfer powder residue from Nylon/Lycra material
« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2017, 08:33:24 PM »
That's pretty bad. Why was there so much powder in those areas to begin with?

We've been struggling getting consistent crystal/powder coating since we started printing HSA transfers.

The sheets have been sifted through a container box, and then flicked to try and remove excess powder before curing.

I sometimes apply the powder after the (light) cure. I don't know if the heat is making it tougher to remove the excess.
That rug really tied the room together, did it not?

Offline zanegun08

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 688
Re: How to remove transfer powder residue from Nylon/Lycra material
« Reply #8 on: March 31, 2017, 11:13:10 PM »
That's excessive powder residue, but alcohol and running it through the conveyor dryer helps remove it

Offline mimosatexas

  • !!!
  • Gonzo Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 4221
  • contributor
Re: How to remove transfer powder residue from Nylon/Lycra material
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2017, 01:12:45 PM »
I know it's the crystals. I meant the crystals would not stick to dry paper like that so sometime between printing and applying powder the paper is getting wet or sticky from something. My guess would be moisture collecting on the substrate side of the emulsion due to humidity. Are you spraying or wiping the back of the screen with anything that could transfer to the paper? Is the paper hot enough that it could melt the crystals onto it when applying the powder somehow? Basically, the powder doesn't just stick to dry paper like that. You may get a handful of random crystals here and there, but that is a massive amount of excess powder stuck to the paper.