When creating special heat transfers for polyester fabric, it is important to choose a compatible ink formula. Polyester fabric is a synthetic material made of Polyethylene Terephthalate. Fabrics are woven or knitted from polyester yarn. Most such Polyester fabrics are converted into T-shirts such as hats, blankets, and bags, as well as performance wear.
Traditional screen printing plastisol transfers do not adhere to polyester fabric. A chemical additive should be used to glue plastisol or water-based ink. This additive can be printed directly or used as a powder before the ink passes completely in the drying process.
Waiting Time for Heat Transfers for Polyester Fabric
Heat transfers for polyester fabric are mostly applied at a lower temperature than screen printing plastisol transfers for cotton fabric. The optimal temperature and temperature duration depend on several conditions. These include fabric color, type of polyester fabric (e.g. polyester T-shirt or polyester cloth bag). When applying heat transfer to a black polyester T-shirt, you may need to lower the temperature by shortening the waiting time since the black fabric retains more heat. Besides, the physical and chemical bond required for transfer is captured with the right amount of pressure and ideal application temperature.
Quality of Heat Transfers for Polyester Fabric
When you use heat transfers for polyester fabric, you will find that opacity is much better than the traditional screen printing of the same design. Unlike screen printing, there is almost no running paint in heat transfer on polyester. It is always a good idea to confirm your type of fabric from the garment or bag manufacturer before applying the transfer for polyester fabric.
Aviva Dallas provides special heat transfer methods for polyester fabric.