Digital textile printing is transforming the dynamic world of fashion and fabrics, changing the way textiles are designed and produced, offering flexibility, reduced waste and rapid turnaround times.

The traditional dying process for textiles using reactive and acid dyes and other dyes is very effective in creating vivid colors and patterns that are fixed into the fabric. It’s not very effective when it comes to sustainability. Traditional dying has long had its environmental drawbacks, including excessive water usage for washing and fixation steps that generate significant effluent as a major source of pollution.

Digital printing on fabrics is a modern technique that uses inkjet technology to print designs directly onto textile materials. Compared to traditional methods, digital textile printing with pigments uses far less water, greatly reduces pollution and supports lower energy consumption—which is especially beneficial in textile-producing regions where water can be scarce and as pollution regulations become stricter.

Unlike dye systems, pigment inks sit on the surface of the fabric and can be fixed through a simple heat process, eliminating the need for water. This “print-and-fix” process is cleaner, faster and more sustainable. What’s the trade-off? Pigments typically produce duller colors and can struggle to achieve the same brightness and saturation as dyes because it sits on the fabric surface. Because of that, pigment inks tend to be used more often in applications like upholstery, bedding and curtains, where vivid colors aren’t as important, but strong light fastness to resist fading is important.

The Important Role of Resins

One of the keys to this digital transformation is resins. Acting as both binder and protector, the resin is what holds the pigment particles in place on the fabric surface and forms a film that protects against washing, rubbing and fading. The resin is essentially the “glue” that makes it possible to print with water-based pigmented inkjet inks.

In addition to ensuring the ink adheres to the fabric by forming a binder, resins ensure the ink maintains its durability and has the correct viscosity for printing. They influence key factors like adhesion, gloss, flexibility and chemical resistance, which are essential for a successful, long-lasting print on different types of textiles.

Developing the ideal resin is challenging. It must provide strong adhesion and protection while maintaining the natural softness—or hand—of the textile. Too much polymer, and the fabric feels stiff or plastic-like. Too little, and the color rubs off or fades in the wash. Striking the right balance between fastness and softness has been a central challenge for formulators.

Engineering Resins for Inkjet Performance

In digital printing, resins must also perform flawlessly inside the inkjet system. Because most textile printers rely on high-precision inkjet nozzles, the resin particles must be extremely fine and uniform to avoid clogging, while also not setting and forming a film in the printhead. The resin must remain stable within the ink formulation, interacting smoothly with pigments, pigment dispersions and other additives. Once the ink reaches the fabric, it needs a mechanism to cure.

Modern resin development is focusing on several key areas: •

Lower-temperature curing: Resins that can form durable films at reduced temperatures help lower energy use and prevent fabric yellowing.
Soft hand feel: Formulations that preserve the natural texture of cotton and polyester while maintaining high fastness levels.
Regulatory compliance: With increasing consumer and regulatory scrutiny, textile resins must meet safety standards such as OEKO-TEX® and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certifications.
Bio-based or renewable materials: Incorporating sustainable feedstocks is becoming an important differentiator.
Self-crosslinking chemistry: This allows the resin to form strong films without external crosslinkers, simplifying processing and reducing volatile byproducts.

Lubrizol’s Innovative Resin Technology

Lubrizol relies on its extensive experience and knowledge in resin technology and adjacent markets to develop novel resins for digital printing on textiles that properly balance fastness and softness.

One of those resin technologies is Lubrijet™ T805, which is an anionically stabilized polyurethane dispersion engineered for use in water-based pigmented inkjet formulations that serves as the binder that secures the pigment to the fabric. It was developed specifically for commercial textile inkjet printing to create a protective film that improves the printed image’s resistance to scratching, rubbing and washing. Lubrijet™ T805 is cosolvent-, APE- and formaldehyde-free. It delivers narrow particle size distribution for reliable jetting and excellent colloidal stability, plus good adhesion with a soft hand.

Lubrizol also offers complementary HSD dispersion technology that uses reactive irreversible anchoring technology to adhere the dispersant to the pigment surface to keep re-agglomeration from occurring while maintaining stability and resisting sheer forces when used in high-speed textile applications. This technology is marketed under the Diamond Dispersions™ brand name and enhances ink open time by creating a bigger region of stability.

Lubrizol remains focused on the ultimate goal-direct printing onto fabric with excellent durability, soft hand and sustainable processing. Innovative resins are making that future increasingly achievable, bridging the gap between environmental responsibility and commercial performance.

As Lubrizol continues to refine formulations and curing systems, the next generation of digital textile printing promises not only sharper images and longer-lasting color, but also a smaller environmental footprint.

Contact us to learn more about innovative Lubrizol resin technology for digital textile printing.

Innovative Resins Open the Door for the Next Generation of Digital Textile Printing