Sublimation Dyes are not the dyes that has a distinct
chemical structure, but a popular variety of dye that has printing
applications. It is readily available in the market as inkjet ink, toner for
laser printers, or as ribbons for the thermal-transfer printing. Sublimation
dyes typically range from the following class of dyes, Acid, Vat, Pigment,
Disperse, Direct and Reactive Dyes. Mostly Disperse and Direct Dyes gets the
choice of printers as formulations of sublimation. These dyes are prepared
from the chemical class of organic systems that is known as azo,
anthroquinone and phthalocyanine dye systems.
Preferred sublimation dyes consists of ideally a four to eight color
sublimation ink sets. The term "sublimation" has an interesting
meaning. It is the process where the solid changes into a gas directly,
without undergoing the normal liquid phase in between. So does the
sublimation dyes gets converted into gas from solid state as a result of the
heat-transfer process. On applying heat and pressure, they subsequently get
absorbed into polyester or acrylic materials as the case may be. Sublimation
dyes forms durable and virtually permanent images. It has been seen that at
approximately 325 degrees when polyester molecules open up. In the transfer
process, the dye gets converted into gas. It is this gas that is able to
bond with the synthetic fabrics.
The way in which sublimation dyes are used for producing
the " transfers" varies with the equipment type. Here the most
common approach using a dye sublimation printer is described.
The basic difference between dye sublimation and other types of printing is
option of heat. It is the vaporised colours that permeates the surface of
the paper. This creates an effect of gentle gradation at each pixel edges.
While in the case of inkjets there is a visible border between dye and
paper. In dye sublimation, as the colour infuses the paper, vulnerability to
fading and distortion is lower.
Transfer
Process of Sublimation dyes