Process simplification for digital inkjet pretreatment enhances color performance, flame retardancy, and eco-economic benefits of abaca window shades

초록

This study evaluates the eco-economic benefits of simplifying the conventional three-step finishing process for abaca fiber window shades. The traditional sequence pretreatment, inkjet printing, and flame-retardant treatment was reduced to a two-step route by using a multifunctional pretreatment that provides both cationic ink-receptive and nitrogen-phosphorus (N-P) flame-retardant (FR) functionalities. A combined cationic pretreatment agent (PT) and N-P FR formulation was developed for pigment-ink digital inkjet printing (PI-DIP), and the effects of PT content and total solids concentration on color quality, print clarity, rubbing fastness, flame retardancy, and antibacterial activity were assessed. Enhanced print sharpness resulted from electrostatic coagulation between cationic PT and anionic pigment inks. Using the simplified process, the treated abaca shades met KS K 0585 and NFPA 701 flame-retardant standards, showed wet rubbing fastness of grade 3–4, and achieved 99.9% antibacterial efficacy. The optimal formulation (10% PT, 27 wt% solids) was found to enable approximately 33% cost reduction and about 41% reduction in carbon emissions when calculated on a Scope 2 basis. These results demonstrate that multifunctional surface formulations can integrate printing and flame-retardant performance while streamlining processing and reducing environmental and economic burdens, offering a practical pathway toward sustainable, eco-efficient textile coloration. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.

키워드