Flock prints are prints in which short lengths of fiber called ‘flock’ (about 1/10 – ¼ inches or 2.54 - 6.4 millimeters) stand upright on the fabric surface to form a design. An adhesive material is applied to the fabric surface in the form of a design.
All manufactured fibers cotton, wool, viscose, rayon, nylon or acrylic can be used for the flock with rayon and nylon being the most popular. The flock fiber is usually dyed prior to its application to the fabric. The short fibers are then directed to the adhesive through either a mechanical or electrostatic process.
Flocking may be accomplished by a mechanical method of beating the underside of the adhesive coated fabric with rotating multisided beater bars as the flock is sifted onto the surface of the fabric. The fabric’s vibrations produced by the beater bars, cause the flock to flow over the surface of the fabric and stand erect. Continued vibration causes erect fibers to penetrate deeper into the adhesive and so more fibers fall on the already erect fibers, they become similarly oriented and build up a pile effect. There are different methods and equipment involved in applying flock to the adhesive areas. Denser pile is obtained but requires costly and sophisticated equipment. Whether or not the flock-printed fabric will withstand dry cleaning and/or laundering depends on the adhesive.
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