Abstract: Thermal transfer printing is a method of printing patterns on products made of various materials. It is especially suitable for producing a small number of diverse personalized and customized products, as well as printing patterns containing full-color images or photos. Next, let’s understand what thermal transfer printing means and what equipment is needed to do thermal transfer printing. Thermal transfer equipment What does thermal transfer mean? What equipment is needed to do thermal transfer

What does thermal transfer mean

1. Heat transfer technology

Heat press transfer technology first uses screen printing, gravure printing and other printing methods to print graphics and text on heat transfer paper or plastic film, and then transfers the graphics and text to fabrics, leather and other items through heating and pressure. .

The heat transfer process can be referred to as heat transfer, and heat transfer can be divided into the following categories:

1. High temperature heat transfer: mainly used for cotton and mixed knitted garments. Such as T-shirts, pajamas, etc. The pattern has a photo effect and is soft and elastic after ironing.

2. Low-temperature heat transfer: Mainly used for nylon cloth and PU artificial leather, such as elastic sportswear, swimsuits, down jackets, sports shoes, leather gloves, etc. The pattern effect after heat treatment is the same as that of high-temperature heat transfer. Used for stretch clothing, with excellent elasticity effect.

3. Flocking heat transfer: It has a wide range of applications and can usually be used for women's stockings, men's cotton foam, clothing trademarks, knitted children's clothing, etc. The pattern has a three-dimensional effect and can be matched with multiple colors. It is soft and soft after ironing. Elastic and strong adhesion.

4. Penetration foaming heat transfer: mainly used for cotton, chemical fiber sweaters, woolen sweaters, jeans, etc. The main features are that it penetrates into the fabric, has good breathability, the foamed part has a strong three-dimensional effect, has good convex texture, feels soft after ironing, and has strong adhesion.

Hot stamping methods and precautions are as follows:

(1) Align the patterned side of the transfer paper with the fabric and place it at the desired position.

(2) Use an iron or transfer machine to apply pressure and heat for a few seconds.

(3) Tear off the bottom paper (three methods).

Cold removal: After complete cooling, slowly peel off the backing paper.

Hot removal: Tear off the backing paper immediately while it is hot.

Warm removal: Wait for a few seconds, and then peel off the backing paper when it is warm.

(4) When ironing stockings, add silicone paper under the printing surface to prevent hot melt glue from seeping down. General hot stamping process indicators are shown in Table 1 for reference only.

2. Dye-sublimation transfer technology

Traditional dye-sublimation transfer refers to printing the dye-sublimation transfer ink onto paper (or plastic film) through screen printing. The paper (or film) with printed graphics and text is overlapped with the fabric and heated, pressurized or decompressed, and the dye on the paper (or film) becomes a gas phase and sublimates and transfers to the fabric. In addition to fabrics, it can also be transferred to ceramics, metals and other products. The main characteristics of sublimation transfer technology are that the transferred image is brightly colored and rich in layers, and the effect is comparable to printing. The difference from printing is that the dye in the transfer ink sublimates when heated, penetrates into the surface of the object, and forms a brightly colored image after sublimation. Therefore, thermal transfer products are durable and the images will not peel, crack or fade.

With the rapid development of high technology, thermal transfer technology and level have also been further expanded and improved. Thermal transfer technology widely uses computers for image processing and design, and then uses high-speed and high-quality inkjet printers to The image is printed on paper (or film), eliminating the plate making process. Sublimation ink can also be coated on the plastic film and cut into ribbons for use in smart card printing technology.

The electronic digitally controlled cup baking machine can transfer the pattern on the sublimation transfer paper to the cup in a few minutes. Use a cup baking machine to create a beautiful, full-color picture on a cup. All you need is special transfer ink and a cup with a special coating. The operation is quick and easy. An electronic digitally controlled baking machine can transfer the pattern on the sublimation transfer paper to the plate in a few minutes. Equipped with special transfer ink, you can use the baking pan machine to bake various patterns on special plates. The electronic digitally controlled printing machine can transfer the pattern on the sublimation transfer paper to porcelain and metal plates in a few minutes. Suitable for making medals, certificates of honor, commemorative plaques, and portrait porcelain plates.

What equipment is needed for thermal transfer printing

It depends on the different products, but an ordinary computer and an EPSON printer are necessary (due to the patented nozzle technology Problem, thermal transfer can only use EPSON printers, use ordinary ink in time, considering the subsequent ink cost, it is also recommended to use EPSON printers).

1. Various crystal images: you also need crystal glue, crystal film, blank crystal, and the printer needs matching ordinary ink;

2. Badges: you also need a badge machine and ordinary inkjet Paper or ordinary photo paper, supporting badge consumables, and the printer needs to be equipped with ordinary ink;

3. PVC card: You also need a sealing machine, a card puncher, PVC kit consumables, and the printer needs to be equipped with ordinary ink;

4. Ceramic plate: You also need a baking pan machine, ceramic transfer paper (ordinary sublimation paper, if you don’t have high color requirements, you can use ordinary inkjet paper instead), blank plate, and the printer needs matching thermal transfer ink ;

Mugs, glasses, space bottles and other cup items: you also need a cup baking machine and ceramic transfer paper (ordinary sublimation paper, if you don’t have high color requirements, you can use ordinary inkjet paper instead ), blank cups, and printers need matching thermal transfer ink;

5. Hats, shoes and other similar textiles: You also need a hat baking machine, New Zealand sublimation paper, blank hats waiting for transfer products, and printers need matching thermal transfer inks. Transfer ink;

6. Pure cotton T-shirts or other pure cotton textiles: You also need a heat press machine, T-shirt transfer paper, blank T-shirts waiting for transfer products, and the printer needs matching thermal transfer ink , it can also be matched with waterproof pigment ink. Be careful not to use ordinary ink. Although it can be transferred, the transferred product is not washable;

7. Non-cotton T-shirts or those with a cotton content of less than 50% Textiles, pillows, mouse pads, puzzles, coasters, cosmetic mirrors, lighters, metal business cards, metal photos, cigarette cases, ceramic plates, gloves, socks, cloth bags, etc.: You also need a heat transfer machine, New Zealand sublimation paper, and waiting Transfer products and printers require thermal transfer ink.

To sum up, if you want to make a full set of products, in addition to the equipment corresponding to each project, you need to be equipped with a computer and two printers (one for ordinary ink and one for thermal transfer ink) , according to the product type, just select the corresponding equipment and the corresponding thermal transfer paper.