Digital fabric devoré (burnout)

Abstract

Provided herein is a composition for digital burnout of a fabric, comprising a fiber-selective burnout agent and a carrier, being formulated for ejection from inkjet machinery. Also provided are a process, a machine and an algorithm for using and deploying the composition for digital burnout of a fabric.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition for digital burnout of a fabric, comprising an acid-releasing polymer and a carrier, being formulated for ejection from inkjet machinery. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , being formulated for soaking into the fabric to thereby reach a plurality of fibers constituting the fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein a dynamic viscosity and/or a Brookfield viscosity at printing temperature and/or a surface tension and/or an electrical resistance of the composition is suitable for inkjet. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , being characterized by at least one of:
 a maximal particle size of less than 1 micron;   a dynamic viscosity at shear that ranges from 2 to 25 centipoise;   a Brookfield viscosity less than 25 centipoises at printing temperature;   a surface tension that ranges from 24 to 35 mN/m; and   an electrical resistance of 50 to 2000 ohm per centimeter.   
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein a concentration of said acid-releasing polymer ranges from 5% wt to 20% wt. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said acid-releasing polymer comprises an alkyl phosphate group, an alkyl-alkoxy phosphate groups and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said acid-releasing polymer is a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphate. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said acid-releasing polymer is represented by general Formula I: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
         each of Z 1  and Z 2  is independently H or a moiety represented by general Formula II: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         provided that at least one of Z 1  and Z 2  is said moiety; 
         A +  is H +  or a metal cation or an ammonium ion; 
         n is an integer that ranges from 50-200; and 
         R is a C 8-20  alkyl. 
       
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said acid-releasing polymer releases phosphoric acid upon heating the composition to 160° C. or higher. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , substantially devoid of phosphoric acid at a temperature that ranges from room temperature to inkjet printhead working temperature. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , having a pH that ranges from 2 to 5 at room temperature. 
     
     
         12 . A process for digital burnout of fabrics, the process comprising:
 providing a fabric; and   printing a digital burnout composition on said fabric in a predetermined digital pattern,   wherein said digital burnout composition comprises an acid-releasing polymer and a carrier, said fabric comprises a cellulosic fiber.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein said digital burnout composition comprises an acid-releasing polymer and a carrier, being formulated for ejection from inkjet machinery. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein said fabric comprises a cellulosic fiber and a synthetic and/or proteinous fiber. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein said fabric comprises at least 20% cellulosic fiber. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 12 , further comprising, subsequent to said printing, heating said fabric to at least 160° C. to thereby degrade said cellulosic fiber. 
     
     
         17 . A process for digital cutting of a fabric consisting of degradable fibers, the process comprising:
 placing the fabric in a inkjet printing machine equipped with at least one inkjet printhead; and   digitally printing a composition for digital burnout of a fabric on at least a part of the fabric, following a predetermined digital pattern;   wherein said composition comprises at least one degradable fiber-specific burnout agent for each degradable fiber in the fabric.   
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein said digital burnout composition comprises an acid-releasing polymer and a carrier, being formulated for ejection from inkjet machinery. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 17 , further comprising, subsequent to said printing, heating said fabric to at least 160° C. to thereby degrade the degradable fibers. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19 , further comprising, subsequent to said heating, removing residues of the degraded degradable fibers.