Thermal transfer

Thermal transfer is also known under the names print, thermal paste, thermoapplication , transfer , "decal", "knurling", applique, thermoprint, sticker, padding, heat transfer.

Thermal transfer technology involves applying an image to a decorated surface from an intermediate carrier (special paper or film) using a thermal press . At home, thermal transfer is applied with a household iron .

The process of applying thermal transfer products is called thermal transfer. When transferring to thermal transfer fabric, the main role is played by three main factors: the temperature of the heat press plate, the heat press pressure and the exposure time. With strict observance of these rules, you will get excellent thermal transfer results.

Thermal transfers are applied quite widely: for application to textiles , knitwear, leather, leather, wood , glass , porcelain , faience , plastic . The most common thermal transfer received for the application of logos , images and decorative elements on products from fabric , leather and leather.

A separate type of thermal transfer technology is used in labeling products with a bar code and other, including variable, information in industrial enterprises, logistics (cargo marking) and other areas. It uses a thermal transfer label or a thermolabel in conjunction with a thermal transfer ribbon (ribbon).

The best global manufacturers produce thermal transfer not only flat, but also voluminous (3D), prints can imitate various textures (for example, embroidery). Prints can include additional elements of decoration or respond to certain application functions. Thermotransfers can be performed with glitter, contain rhinestones, be reflective, glow in the ultraviolet , etc. Some manufacturers have achieved photographic quality thermal prints with the transfer of very fine lines and accurate colors. Most of the named effects are not available for direct printing.

Thermal transfer application has several other advantages over direct silk-screen printing on fabric:

1. High-quality thermal transfer can transmit very thin lines and parts.
2. Thermal transfer may be applied to materials unavailable for high-quality application in a stencil process: coarse flax, canvas, burlap, mesh fabrics.
3. Thermal transfer is easily applied to finished products with buttons , zippers, protruding elements.
4. Thermal transfer allows you to transfer a clear image of photographic quality with accurate reproduction of the color palette.
5. Thermotransfers allow you to avoid the cash balances of unsold products, as to save money you can print a large batch of prints, and apply on products only for immediate sale. Depending on the demand, the product itself, the place where the image is drawn, are corrected, the design is abandoned or merged with another image.
6. The resulting images are resistant to washing.
7. Thermal transfer is applied to the product for a few seconds, and the product does not need to be dried in the dryer.
8. For drawing images on the garment industry does not need to have bulky equipment, and only need a heat press.

In some cases, direct printing on the fabric is more convenient.

In Russia, various types of thermal transfer are produced: flat one-, two-, three-color, designed for non-elastic or low-elastic fabrics. They make simple thermotransfers by silk-screen (screen) method or cut out of thermotransfer monochrome films on a plotter. In addition, digital thermal transfer for individual products and home entertainment are widespread. Digital thermal transfer should be distinguished from industrial professional thermal transfer, referred to in this article.

Digital thermal transfer printers are printed on a special thermal transfer paper. In thermal transfer of digital prints, the sheet is completely transferred to the product (it looks as if a simple white A4 sheet with a printed image and white margins were glued onto the fabric), therefore an appropriate design is needed here. Digital thermal transfer have unstable performance and very low quality, for example, washing is allowed no higher than 30ºС.

Industrial thermal transfer can be made with waterborne paints or plastisol paints. A special type of prints are sublimation thermal transfer. The use of one or another type of thermal transfer is dictated by the type of material and the nature of the product to which it is applied, as well as the design of the image. For example, for elastic fabrics, special elastic prints are made, for knitted knitwear - hard, not stretching transfers of increased strength. For light synthetic products, sublimation thermal transfer is used.

• Vasilevsky A.S. Thermotransfer technology in clothing production. // New technologies in the light industry. M., Nomos, 2006