System and methods for garment printing pretreatment

Abstract

Systems and methods for garment printing pretreatment are provided. A fabric of an at least one fabric has a first surface opposing a second surface, and a treatment composition is applied to at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The treatment composition includes high-density polyethylene, a first primer and filler, hydrophobic silicon, and filtered water. In some instances, the treatment composition also includes citric acid, and the filtered water is provided substantially or completely devoid of added chlorine.

1 . A fabric, comprising:
 a first surface opposing a second surface; and   a pretreatment composition applied to the first surface, wherein the pretreatment composition is designed to improve at least one color attribute of ink applied to the first surface, the pretreatment composition comprising:
 a polyethylene; 
 a digital primer and filler; 
 a hydrophobic silicon; and 
 filtered water. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the pretreatment composition is applied to the first surface and the second surface of the fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene comprises a high-density polyethylene and the pretreatment composition is imparted with a concentration of high-density polyethylene of at least about 0.5% by volume, relative to the pretreatment composition as a whole. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the pretreatment composition is imparted with a concentration of the digital primer and filler of at least about 50% by volume, relative to the pretreatment composition as a whole. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the pretreatment composition is imparted with a concentration of hydrophobic silicon of at least about 3% by volume, relative to the pretreatment composition as a whole. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the filtered water of the pretreatment composition is substantially devoid of chlorine. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is provided in the form of a garment selected from the group consisting of sweatshirts, long-sleeved shirts, dresses, pants, sweaters, shorts, gowns, tunics, cardigans, overalls, swimsuits, quarter-zips, trousers, skirts, suits, sportswear, jackets, coats, scarves, tank tops, hats, gloves, corsets, underwear, socks, and bras. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the pretreatment composition consists of:
 the polyethylene, wherein the polyethylene is provided in the form of a high-density polyethylene;   the digital primer and filler;   the hydrophobic silicon; and   the filtered water.   
     
     
         9 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is treated with a biopolishing composition, the biopolishing composition comprising:
 at least one dyeing auxiliary;   at least one acid; and   cellulase.   
     
     
         10 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein:
 an ink-based graphic is printed onto the first surface,   application of the pretreatment composition increases a vibrancy of the fabric by at least about 50%.   
     
     
         11 . A garment, comprising:
 a fabric comprising:
 a first surface opposing a second surface; and 
 a pretreatment formulation applied to the first surface, the pretreatment formulation comprising:
 a high-density polyethylene provided in a first concentration of at least about 0.5% to about 4% by volume, relative to the pretreatment formulation as a whole; 
 a first digital primer and filler provided in a second concentration of at least about 50% to about 70% by volume, relative to the pretreatment formulation as a whole; and 
 a hydrophobic silicon provided in a third concentration of at least about 3% to about 9% by volume, relative to the pretreatment formulation as a whole, 
 wherein a remaining volume of the pretreatment formulation comprises filtered water. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein the fabric is a white fabric. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein the fabric is a color fabric. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein at least one surface of the garment is not treated with the pretreatment formulation. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein the pretreatment formulation is designed to impart the fabric with a softer hand feel. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 11 , wherein the pretreatment formulation further comprises a second digital primer and filler provided in a fourth concentration of at least about 3% to about 8% by volume, relative to the pretreatment formulation as a whole. 
     
     
         17 . A method for applying a pretreatment formulation to a textile, the method comprising:
 providing a fabric to a tension system, wherein the fabric includes a first surface and a second surface;   transferring the fabric into a first reservoir containing filtered water;   removing excess liquid from the fabric;   applying the pretreatment formulation to the fabric to create a pretreated fabric, wherein a percent wet pickup of the pretreatment formulation for each of the first surface and the second surface is at least about 10%;   transporting the pretreated fabric to a dryer; and   drying the pretreated fabric in the dryer to create a dried pretreated fabric,   wherein the pretreatment formulation is designed to improve an effectiveness of applying an ink to the fabric.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pretreatment formulation comprises:
 a high-density polyethylene;   a digital primer and filler; and   a hydrophobic silicon.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the pretreatment formulation is applied to the textile via a one-step bath application method,   the fabric is transferred to a second reservoir containing the pretreatment formulation to create the pretreated fabric.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a residual moisture content of the pretreated fabric is less than about 4% by weight relative to the textile as a whole after drying.