Sublimation printing
Also known as: Dye-sublimation, Sublimation transfer
Transfer print in which dyes diffuse from carrier paper directly into polyester fibres under heat — works only on polyester and polymer-coated surfaces.
Description
Sublimation printing was introduced in the late 1960s and works with special disperse-dye inks. First the mirrored motif is inkjet-printed onto sublimation paper. Then the paper is placed on the polyester textile and cured in a heat press at 190-210 degrees Celsius for 30-60 seconds.
At these temperatures the dyes sublime directly from solid carrier state into gaseous state — skipping the liquid phase. At the same time the crystalline structure of polyester opens and the gaseous colour molecules diffuse into the fibre. On cooling the fibre structure closes and the dyes are permanently locked in.
Because the colour sits inside the fibre, the print is completely hand-neutral, extremely wash-fast and crack-proof — ideal for sports jerseys, sublimation mugs, mousepads. The hard limitation: sublimation printing works only on polyester (or polymer-coated non-textiles). It does not bond on cotton. Second limitation: light base colour required because no white can be printed.
Properties
| Fibre suitability | Only polyester (≥ 65 %) or polymer coating |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 190-210 °C, 30-60 s |
| Hand feel | Hand-neutral, colour in the fibre |
| Application | Sports jerseys, flags, all-over prints |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Wikipedia: Sublimationsdruck Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublimationsdruck
- Wikipedia: Dye-sublimation printing Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dye-sublimation_printing
