Effect of Polyol Molecular Structure on Fluidity, Surface Tension, and Printed Pattern Sharpness of Disperse Dye Inks

In the present study, density functional theory (DFT) has been used in simulating and calculating the molecular geometries of differently structured polyols (within a water phase), as well as the weak interactions between these polyols and the water molecules. Furthermore, low field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) has been used in studying the transverse relaxation times of different polyols, in addition to their (20.00 wt %) fluidity in an aqueous environment. Moreover, the influence of polyols, with different molecular structures, on the ink fluidity, was also explored. A bubble pressure tensiometer was also used to characterize the surface tension of the aqueous polyol (20.00 wt %) solution, the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, 0.50 wt %) solution, and the ink. This was made to clarify the influence of polyol and SDS on the surface tension of ink. In addition, the particle size, zeta potential, pH value, viscosity, and rheological properties of the ink, were also investigated. The resulting data showed that polyols have certain effects on the particle size, stability, and viscosity of the ink. The jetting performances of different polyol inks were, under certain conditions of the inkjet drive waveform, also explored. The results showed that the fluidity, viscosity, and surface tension of the ink will render a certain influence on the inkjet performances. The prepared polyol ink was thereafter used for polyester fabric printing, and the contour sharpness and color fastness of the printed fabric were accordingly evaluated. The data showed that the increase in ink viscosity, and decrease in fluidity, promote the improvement in contour sharpness. In addition, the printed fabric demonstrated an excellent color fastness.