samedi 14 novembre 2015

By Mattie Knight


There is pressure from all quarters to adopt manufacturing techniques which promote environmental conservation. Fabric printing is one of the areas which has been put in the spotlight due to the damage which has long been attributed to the use of inks. The good news is that there are many alternative materials and processes which can be adopted. We will look at some of the characteristics of digital printing that is eco friendly.

There a number of metallic elements found in ink. They include selenium, lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, mercury and nickel among others. Each of these element is harmful to the environment when used for a prolonged period of time or in large quantities. Chromium is in addition used as part of screen lacquers. This metal has devastating effects on the soil and water sources when washed into the environment.

Ink selection should be done with due diligence. Today, there are many types of water-based inks which are friendlier to the environment. The ink chosen should be versatile as relates to the materials on which it can be used. Choose one that can be used for materials such as silk, rayon, cotton and nylon. In addition, it should be usable with any color.

Water is an important input in the printing process. Unfortunately, most of this water goes to waste. The trend is to use water treatment systems which make it possible for the water to be used many times over. Recycling the water will not only help in environmental conservation but will help lower your operation costs significantly. It has been shown that more than 60% of water can be recycled and used at various stages.

You need to re-evaluate the type of printer you are using in your firm. Two main types of the machine exist; digital and conventional. The conventional type is the most widely used. It has greater inefficiency in terms of water, energy and ink use. Replacing it with the digital type will without a doubt achieve greater conservation of these raw materials while maintaining high quality imprints on fabrics.

Quite a number of chemicals are used during pre-treatment. Urea is the most important chemical here. As the urea is broken down during steaming carbon dioxide is released into the environment. The gas has well-known effects on the ozone and its reduction should be minimized as much as possible. There is a special foam available to be used in place of the urea. This foam is more eco-friendly.

During engraving, a significant amount of energy is utilized. When using digital techniques, it is possible to considerably reduce this amount of energy. The other option which can be considered at this stage is the use of pigments as an alternative. Pigments are more efficient because they do not require pre-treatment and can be used for any medium.

It should be emphasized that adopting environmental friendly techniques is not just about the environment but is also a sound business decision. Many consumers are now well informed about chemicals likely to be harmful to their health. They are likely to reject products which have such chemicals. At the same time, governments have tightened regulations in a bid to force the use of sustainable materials and processes.




About the Author:



0 commentaires:

Enregistrer un commentaire

Copyright © writing prompts | Powered by Blogger
Design by N.Design Studio | Blogger Theme by NewBloggerThemes.com