DYE Migration:
The Problem:
Dye migration or bleeding occurs on polyester
and or poly/cotton garments when the Disperse
dye in polyester fiber is heated to temperatures
in excess of 265 degrees F (138°C)
causing it to sublimate. (The dye actually
changes from a solid to a gas.) When plastisol
inks are heated at temperatures higher
than 265 degrees F (138°C). (Most
plastisol ink is cured at 320 degrees
F (160°C) these dyes are released
into the ink causing a discoloration of
the plastisol ink.
Example: A red 50%
cotton / 50% polyester shirt is printed
and cured at 320 degrees F (160°C)
with a MH (non-low bleed / high opacity)
White ink. After 12 hours, the white
ink begins to turn pink. Note that the
migration may not become noticeable
for 24 to 48 hours depending on the
ink deposit or the quality of the dye
used in the garment.
The Solution:
• Print with a quality low bleed
(ML Series) ink as an under base when
printing on polyester or polyester /
cotton colored textiles. Rutland’s
ML9240 Snap white and ML9230 Supreme
White are very effective options when
printing on polyester / cotton blends.
Our ML9749 Jersey White is recommended
when printing on 100% polyester substrates.
Testing is suggested when new lots and
or types of garments are to be printed.
(A drop of plasticizer on the suspect
fabric sandwiched between two pieces
of white cloth and pressed at 320 degrees
F (160°C) for 30 seconds, will show
the amount of bleed from a particular
fabric. All polyester will bleed some
but you should be concerned with fabrics
that exhibit severe bleed.)
• On 100% polyester (bleed is
always more severe) you must use Rutland’s
ML9749 Jersey White.
• Print on 100% Cotton. Cotton
will not bleed and therefore doesn’t
require low bleed ink. Use MH9600 Soft
White on 100% cotton as a good quality,
high opaque, economical white.
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