REACTIVE CROSS-LINKING AGENT FOR PIGMENT COATING AND PRINTING.

AVCO-FIXATOR UP is a non-formaldehye cross-linking agent, mainly used to improve the wet fastness of fabrics printed or coated with pigments. The molecule contains several reactive sites, which helps to bond the binder polymer chains and the textiles fibres. It reacts quickly at elevated temperatures, or more slowly at lower drying temperatures. It is suitable also for room temperature drying/curing processes. It is recommended for pigment printing or coating of fabrics which are sensitive to high temperatures such as polypropylene and polyacrylonitryle, or when printing with mat or white pigments on fabrics pre-dyed with dyes sensitive to high temperature sublimation. It is formaldehyde free and is recommended for the production of textiles that requires ÖkoTex 100 standard.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Appearance	Clear almost colourless, slightly viscous liquid
Chemical nature	Compound of poly functional aziridine and solubilizers.
Ionic type	Non-ionic
Solubility	Soluble in water, can be dissolved in organic solvents.
pH (0.1% sol.)	5 – 8
Compatibility	Hydrolyses in water. Reacts with alcohols , amines,acids and other chemicals containing active hydrogene sites.
Storage	Do not store in direct sun and in hot places. Store the product in closed containers as it is sensitive to water and humidity. When correctly stored,stable for at least 12 months.

PROPERTIES & USES:

1. AVCO-FIXATOR UP is used in combination with self-linking aqueous acrylic and polyurethane dispersions such as AVCO-BINDER series. The product improves the wet rubbing and washing fastnesses of pigment prints on fabrics made from synthetic fibres, cellulose fibres and blends.

2. AVCO-FIXATOR UP is reacting with cross-linking acrylic and polyurethane binders after short drying and curing time at elevated temperature, or at longer times during storage of coated or printed fabrics.

3. In high-speed printing or coating processes, final fixation is achieved after some days of storing the treated fabrics.

4. The ready made paste produced with AVCO-FIXATOR UP should be used within 6-12 hours. After too long sorage time the product is hydrolizing in the aqueous paste and looses its effectivity. In order to re-activate the cross-linking effect, additional amount of AVCO-FIXATOR UP should be added to the paste.

5. AVCO-FIXATOR UP is highly concentrated product and is used at low dosages.

6. AVCO-FIXATOR UP is a non-yellowing product which does not affect the colour of the pigments.

7. Can be applied together with melamine resins in order to improve washing fastness properties.

8. Recommended for printing and coating facrics made from fibres sensitive to curing at high temperatures.

9. Recommended for printing or coating polyester fabrics pre-dyed with dyes sensitive to high temperature sublimation.

10. Recommended for high-speed printing or coating processes when there is not enough time for fixation of the binder during drying, or when a curing process is not possible.

11. AVCO-FIXATOR UP is formaldehyde free fixing agent, suitable for Ökotex 100

standard.

APPLICATION:

1. AVCO-FIXATOR UP is applied under the normal processing conditions of pigment printing, with white spirit emulsion or with all aqueous paste. It is used at a concentration of 0.5 – 2% of the amount of the binder solids, depends on the binder type and on the substrate. For 100% synthetics, amount of AVCO-FIXATOR UP should be increased.

2. AVCO-FIXATOR UP should be added directly to the ready made printing paste by stirring with a high-speed mixer just before printing. Aqueous printing paste containing AVCO-FIXATOR UP should not be stored for too long time. It should be used within 6 – 12 hours after mixing in the product. The ready made paste should not be kept in hot places or in direct sun.The pH of the paste should be neutral to slightly alkaline (adjust to pH of 7.5 – 9 with ammonia solution).

3. If shelf life of the paste containing AVCO-FIXATOR UP was expired, it will not cause any pre-mature cross-linking effect. The product hydrolizes slowly in the water and looses its effectivity.The hydrolized product will not cause any blocking or clogging problem of the printing screens. There is a need to re-activate the cross-linking effect by adding a fresh amount of AVCO-FIXATOR UP.

4. When printing or coating fabrics in high-speed processes, the final cross-linking will be achieved after storing the dried fabrics for 4 – 8 days. Drying should be done at the highest temperature possible, drying at 170 -180ºc will ensure fast curing.

5. When printing fabrics sensitive to high temperaturem such as poly-propylene or poly-acrylic fabrics, add 2-5 g/kg of AVCO-FIXATOR UP to the pigment printing paste. Print and dry at 110-120°C. Store for 4 – 8 days before delivering the printed fabrics.

6. When printing polyester fabrics pre-dyed with disperse dyes sensitive to sublimation with white or opaque pigments, add 2 – 5 g/kg of AVCO-FIXATOR UP. Dry and cure at 120-130°C. Store for 4 – 8 days before delivering the printed fabrics.

7. When printing ready made textile articles, air drying followed by hot ironing will ensure complete fixation of the prited area. In such a case higher dosages of AVCO-FIXATOR UP is recommended, use 0.5 – 1% product in the pigment printing paste.