Combined crease recovery finishing and pigment printing

The combined application of crease recovery finishing (using a dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea-based finish) and pigment printing is evaluated in this study. The use of a small amount of ammonium chloride in a combined print–finish process induces significant pigment print paste viscosity losses. However, the catalyst 2-aminoethanesulphonic acid produces negligible viscosity reduction when used in the combined print–finish process, coupled with the desired levels of finish and pigment print performance. Similar dry crease recovery, breaking load, colour strength and colour fastness properties are achieved by using 2-aminoethanesulphonic acid in the combined print–finish process relative to the conventional print–finish process.