- Flock prints are prints in which short length of fibres called “flocks” stand upright on the fabric surface to form a design.
- The technique of adhering minute pieces of fibre called flock to form a design on fabric is called “flocking”
- The technique has been used for about 600 years
- An adhesive material rather than a colorant is applied to the fabric surface in the form of a design.
- It has become more widely used in recent years because of modern methods.
Method:
- For flock printing, a suitable adhesive material is first applied on the fabric surface in the form of a design.
- All manufactured fibres cotton, wool, viscose, nylon, rayon or acrylic can be used as flocks.
- Rayon and Orlon are the most popular materials for flocking.
- The flock fibre is usually dyed prior to flocking.
- The fabric is also dyed before flocking if desired.
- The short fibres are then directed to the adhesive through either a mechanical or electrostatic process.
- The flock is applied to the fabric in a manner that causes it to adhere in an upright position and produce a pile like velvet- textured design.
- The flock generally ranges in length from 2/25 to ¼ inch (2-6mm)
Machinery:
Flocking may be accomplished by a mechanical method of beating the underside of the adhesive- coated fabric with rotating multisided beater bars, which causes the flock to flow over the surface of the fabric and stand erect. Continued vibration caused erect fibres to penetrate deeper and fix in to the adhesive, and as more fibres fall on the already erect fibres, they become similar oriented and built up a pile effect.
With this method the fibres become more deeply imbedded and therefore, more permanently attached to the surface of the fabric.
The other method is the Giround process is a mechanical method. Sheaves of fibre such as tow are fed in to the devices, which holds the fibres vertically and cuts them in to predetermined, uniform lengths. This cutting operation is regularly repeated causing continuous horizontal pressure against the fibres. While remaining aligned in a vertical position the flock is continually moved horizontally in a feeding guide towards a conveyor belt on which the fabric is substrate coated with an adhesive. As the flocks come in contact with the adhesive, it is implanted in it to form a very erect, compact dense pile superior to that which is possible by other methods.
Through this method the flock may be cut to the desired length and can be made of any types of fibres, including glass and metal.
The other technique of flocking utilizes an electrostatic principle, in this method as the flock is shifted on to the fabric, it passes through the electrostatic field, or electrically charged air spaces. This directs the fibre to stay longitudinal direction towards the fabric, which causes the flock to stick to the adhesive in an erect position. A denser flocking can be obtained through this process as the fibres uniformly adhere upright on the fabric.
This is more expensive technique.
Characteristics:
- In addition to the flock printing or print designs in flock, flocking is also done overall to cover the entire fabric surface.
- These kinds of fabrics are used for shoes, and clothing, imitation plush, nonslip patch fabrics on boat decks and swimming areas, hand bags and belts, beds spreads, furniture, automotive seating and wide variety of other uses.
- In this process, very short, usually coloured fibres adhered to fabric in design effect, conforming to pattern of adhesive applied with roller.
- The flock is usually a coloured fibre there by adding to the decorative appeal.
|
Participants