1
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
[39 OF 1970]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[see section 10 and rule13]
“A COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR PRINTING AND PROVIDING STIFFNESS TO TEXTILE SUBSTRATES”
Name and address of Applicant:
RELIANCE RETAIL LIMITED
3rd Floor, Court House, Lokmanya Tilak Marg,
Dhobi Talao, Mumbai, 400 002
Nationality: Indian
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
2
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure is in the field of textile printing and finishing. In particular, the disclosure provides a printing composition and a method for printing textile substrates and providing a stiff finish to the printed and finished textile. The present disclosure also provides a printed and finished textile with improved stiffness. 5
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Textiles are used extensively in daily life, such as clothing, upholstered furnishings, towels, bed and table coverings and so on. There are various methods to color the textile such as dyeing or printing. Dyeing involves applying a colorant to the whole fabric network including yarn 10 and thread whereas printing involves applying a colorant in a specific design pattern on the surface of the fabric. Reactive dyeing and reactive printing methods have been used in the textile industry over many years and are lengthy processes.
Reactive dyeing involves multiple steps such as dyeing the fabric using reactive dyes which 15 can take up to 8-10 hours followed by washing (about 14 hours), drying (about 6 hours), and finishing (about 24 hours). Thus, the total time for coloring the fabric and producing a finished colored fabric using the reactive dyeing method takes about 50-55 hours. For example, this method is employed to prepare Jetpur cotton sarees which takes about 52 hours to produce one batch of sarees and generates a large volume of wastewater. 20
Reactive printing also involves many steps. Fabric is pre-treated, then a paste containing a colorant is applied to the fabric through a printing machine to create a printed fabric. The printed fabric is then steamed, washed, and dried. Reactive printing takes about 20-24 hours.
25
Reactive dyeing is commonly used for preparing fabrics that are used for making sarees, shirts and other daily wear clothes. Customers prefer fabrics with a better finish. Therefore, from a commercial point of view, it is important to increase the stiffness of the fabric for a better finish to increase sales. The current reactive dyeing method, which takes about 50-55 hours, is not economical due to the time and resources involved and impacts the throughput of the 30 production process. Thus, there is a need in the art to increase stiffness of the fabric that lasts after many washes and at the same time make the process of preparing the finished fabric faster. The present disclosure attempts to address said need.
3
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present disclosure provides a printing composition for textile, comprising: an acrylic polymer-based coating binder comprising a monomer selected from methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, or any combination thereof; a silicone-based softener; an 5 acrylic polymer-based thickener; a coloring compound; and water; wherein, the composition is a pigment printing composition.
The present disclosure also provides a method for preparing a printed and finished textile, comprising: a) applying the printing composition to a textile substrate to obtain a printed textile 10 substrate; b) drying the printed textile substrate to obtain a dried substrate; and c) curing the dried substrate to obtain a printed and finished textile.
The present disclosure further provides a printed and finished textile, wherein said printed and finished textile has a stiffness that is present for at least up to 10 washes, wherein the textile is 15 a polyester or its blend.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
Figure 1A shows a schematic of the process steps and corresponding time required for a traditional reactive dyeing method. 20
Figure 1B shows a schematic of the process steps and corresponding time required for the inventive method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 25
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may 30 be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results. Throughout this specification, the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” or “containing” or “has” or “having”, or “including but not limited to” wherever used, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of
4
elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
Reference throughout this specification to “some embodiments”, “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection 5 with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in some embodiments”, “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification may not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. It is appreciated that certain features of the disclosure, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination 10 in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the disclosure, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.
Throughout the present disclosure, the terms ‘textile substrate’, ‘fabric’, ‘yarn’, ‘textile’, 15 ‘cloth’, and the likes are intended to cover natural fabric, synthetic polymer fabric and blends of natural and/or synthetic polymer fabric.
The term ‘finished substrate’ or ‘finished textile’ as used herein refers to a printed, dried, and cured substrate provided by the application of the composition and the method of the present 20 disclosure to a textile substrate in the manner described herein.
The term “about” as used herein encompasses variations of +/-5% and more preferably +/-2.5%, as such variations are appropriate for practicing the present invention.
25
The term “coloring compound” as used herein refers to a pigment(s) employed for coloring the textile/fabric. In some embodiments, the pigment is mixed with an emulsifier.
The terms “printing composition for textile”, “textile composition”, “composition for textile printing”, “textile printing composition” and “aqueous textile composition” are used 30 interchangeably throughout the disclosure.
The present disclosure provides a printing composition for textile, comprising an acrylic polymer-based coating binder comprising a monomer selected from methyl methacrylate, butyl
5
acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, or any combination thereof; a silicone-based softener; an acrylic polymer-based thickener; a coloring compound; and water; wherein the composition is a pigment printing composition. In some embodiments, the printing composition is employed for printing polyester textile or its blends.
5
In some embodiments, the coating binder is present in the printing composition in an amount of about 1-30 % by weight, including values and ranges thereof; the softener is present in the composition in an amount of about 0.1-3 % by weight, including values and ranges thereof; and the thickener is present in an amount of about 1-3 % by weight, including values and ranges thereof. The amount of pigment added to the printing composition depends on the desired shade 10 of the fabric. Water is added to make the weight of the printing composition to 100%. It would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the amounts of all components of the printing composition are adjusted in such a way to make the composition to 100%.
In some embodiments, the coating binder is present in the composition in an amount of about 15 1-30%, 1-25%, 1-20%, 1-15%, 1-10%, 1-5%, 5-30%, 5-25%, 5-20%, 5-18%, 5-15%, 5-13%, 5-10%, 6-30%, 6-25%, 6-20%, 6-15%, 6-13%, 10-30%, 10-25%, 10-20%, 10-15%, 12-30%, 12-25%, 12-20%, 12-18%, 15-30%, 15-20%, 20-30%, 20-25%, or 25-30% by weight; including values and ranges thereof; the softener is present in the composition an amount of about 0.1-3%, 0.1-2.5%, 0.1-2%, 0.1-1.5%, 0.1-1%, 0.5-2.5%, 0.5-2%, 0.5-1.5%, 0.5-1%, 1-20 3%, 1-2.5%, or 1-2% by weight, including values and ranges thereof; and the thickener is present in an amount of about 1-3%, 1-2.5%, 1-2%, 1.4-3%, 1.4-2%, 1.4-1.8%, 1.5-3%, 1.5-1.8%, 1.8-2%, 2-2.5%, or 2-3% by weight, including values and ranges thereof.
The acrylic polymer-based coating binder comprises a polymer synthesized from methyl 25 methacrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, or any combination of these monomers. In some embodiments, the acrylic polymer-based coating binder comprises a polymer synthesized from a mix comprising methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, wherein methyl methacrylate is present in the mix in an amount of about 5-10%, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate is present in the mix in an amount of about 5-15%, and butyl acrylate is present in the mix in 30 an amount of about 10-20%. In some embodiments, the ratio of the monomers - methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate - in the coating binder ranges from 1:1:2 to 1:3:4.
6
The acrylic polymer-based coating binder provides stiffness to the fabric and durability to fabric colors even after multiple washings.
In some embodiments, the coating binder has a specific gravity of about 1.0-1.2 gm/cc, including values and ranges thereof, such as about 1.1-1.2 gm/cc, 1.1 gm/cc, 1.15 gm/cc, or 1.2 5 gm/cc.
In some embodiments, the coating binder has a viscosity of about 200-1400 cps, including values and ranges thereof, such as about 200-500, 200-400, 300-500, 400-500, 400-600, 500-600, 600-800, 800-1000, 1200-1400, 400, 450, 500, 750, 1000, 1200 or 1400 cps. 10
In some embodiments, the pH of the coating binder is in the range of about 6-8, including values and ranges thereof, such as about 6.5-7.5, 6.5-7.3, 6.8-7.3, 6.8-7.5, 7-7.5, 6.5, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, or 8.
15
In some embodiments, the coating binder is an anionic white viscous liquid.
In some embodiments, the acrylic polymer-based coating binder is a milky viscous liquid having a viscosity of ≤ 500 cps and a pH of about 6-8.
20
In some embodiments, the silicone-based softener comprises one or more of organic polysiloxane, ethylenediamine, aluminium nitrate, polyvinyl alcohol, and ethyl orthosilicate. The silicone-based softener increases viscosity and reduces density of the textile printing composition.
25
In some embodiments, the silicone-based softener has a pH of about 4-6.5, including values and ranges thereof, such as about 4-6, 4-5.8, 4-5.5, 4-5, 4.5-6.5, 4.5-5.5, 4.5-5, 5-6, 5.5-6, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, or 6.
In some embodiments, the silicone-based softener has a specific gravity of about 0.886-1.086 30 gm/cc, including values and ranges thereof, such as about 0.886-1.0 gm/cc, 0.886-0.98 gm/cc, 0.886-0.95 gm/cc, 0.9-1.0 gm/cc, 0.93-1.05 gm/cc, 0.95-1.05 gm/cc, 0.986-1.086 gm/cc, 0.99-1.05 gm/cc, 0.88 gm/cc, 0.9 gm/cc, 0.95 gm/cc, 0.986 gm/cc, or 1.086 gm/cc.
7
In some embodiments, the silicone-based softener is non-ionic in nature.
In some embodiments, the silicone-based softener has a pH of about 4-6, including values and ranges thereof, a specific gravity of about 0.886-1.086 gm/cc, including values and ranges thereof, and is non-ionic in nature. 5
In some embodiments, the coloring compound comprises one or more pigments and an emulsifier. The amount of pigment present in the composition depends on the desired shade of the fabric. In an exemplary embodiment, the pigment is present in an amount of about 1-6% by weight of the composition, including values and ranges thereof, such as about 1-5%, 1-10 4.5%, 1-4%, 1-3%, 1-2%, 2-6%, 2-5%, 2-4%, 2-3%, 3-6%, 3-5%, 3-4%, 4-6%, 4-5%, or 5-6% by weight.
In some embodiments, the pigment is selected from synthetic azo dyes. Different types of azo dyes are used for different colors and types. In some embodiments, the particle size of the 15 pigment/synthetic azo dye ranges from about 0.3-1 μm, including values and ranges thereof, such as about 0.3-0.9 μm, 0.3-0.7, 0.4-1 μm, 0.5-1 μm, or 0.5-0.8 μm.
In some embodiments, the pigment is suspended in an emulsifier selected from ethoxylate-based emulsifiers that are available commercially. 20
In some embodiments, the acrylic polymer-based thickener comprises an acrylic acid homopolymer.
The thickener increases the viscosity of the composition, facilitates uniform mixing, and 25 provides desired consistency to the printing composition.
The printing composition of the present disclosure is an aqueous composition. Water is added to make up the weight of the composition to 100%. In some embodiments, the printing composition comprises about 60-90% by weight of water, including values and ranges thereof, 30 such as about 60-87%, 60-85%, 60-80%, 60-70%, 70-90%, 70-85%, 70-80%, 80-90%, or 85-90%. The coloring compound, binder, softener, and thickener are added to water to prepare the printing composition. In some embodiments, water employed for making the composition has a temperature of about 30°C.
8
In some embodiments, the printing composition further comprises one or more additives selected from a defoamer, a fixing agent, urea, and ammonia.
In some embodiments, the defoamer is present in the composition in an amount of about 0.1-0.5 % by weight, including values and ranges thereof, such as about 0.1-0.3%, 0.1-0.25%, 0.2-5 0.4%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, or 0.5%.
In some embodiments, the fixing agent is present in the composition in an amount of about 0.5-2% by weight, including values and ranges thereof, such as about 0.5-1.5%, 0.5-1%, 1-2%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, or 2% by weight. In some embodiments, the fixing agent is a formaldehyde 10 free cationic dye fixing agent such as a composition comprising a Quaternary ammonium compound. In some embodiments, the fixing agent is a formaldehyde free cross-linking agent. In some embodiments, the fixing agent provides a wash care performance of more than 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 washes.
15
In some embodiments, urea is present in an amount of about 2-4% by weight, including values and ranges thereof, such as about 2-3%, 2.5-4%, 3-4%, 2%, 3%, or 4%.
In some embodiments, ammonia is present in an amount of about 0.5-1.5 % by weight, including values and ranges thereof, such as about 0.5-1%, 1-1.5%, 0.5%, 1%, or 1.5%, by 20 weight.
In some embodiments, the printing composition comprises:
the coloring compound (the amount depends on the desired shade);
the acrylic-polymer based binder in an amount of about 1-30 % by weight; 25
the softener in an amount of about 0.1-3 % by weight;
the thickener in an amount of about 1-3 % by weight; and
water to make the weight to 100%.
In some embodiments, the printing composition comprises: 30
the coloring compound (the amount depends on the desired shade);
the acrylic-polymer based binder in an amount of about 1-30 % by weight;
the softener in an amount of about 0.1-3 % by weight;
the thickener in an amount of about 1-3 % by weight;
9
the defoamer in an amount of about 0.1-0.5 % by weight;
the fixing agent in an amount of about 0.5-2% by weight;
urea in an amount of about 2-4% by weight;
ammonia in an amount of about 0.5-1.5 % by weight; and
water to make the weight to 100%. 5
In some embodiments, the ratio of the coloring compound to the binder ranges from about 1:2 to 1:6, about 1:2 to 1:5, about 1:2 to 1:4.5, about 1:2.5 to 1:3, about 1:2 to 1:3, about 1:2.5 to 1:5, about 1:2.5 to 1:4.5, or about 1:2.5 to 1:4.
10
The present disclosure also provides a method for preparing a printed and finished textile, comprising: a) applying the printing composition described herein to a textile substrate through/by a screen printer to obtain a printed textile substrate; b) drying the printed textile substrate to obtain a dried substrate; and c) curing the dried substrate to obtain a cured printed textile with a desired finish such as stiffness, stability/permanency of colors, feel, and quality 15 that lasts after multiple washing, and the likes.
The composition and the method of the present disclosure substantially reduce the production time of about 50-55 hours associated with reactive dyeing or about 20-24 hours associated with reactive printing to about 20-60 minutes to provide a printed and finished textile substrate. 20
The printing composition of the present disclosure is applied to the textile substrate through a screen printer such as a flat-bed screen printer or a rotary screen printer. In an exemplary embodiment, the composition is applied to the substrate through a flat-bed screen printing machine with a rotary head. 25
Table 1 below provides exemplary time and temperature conditions for printing, drying, and curing steps:
Table 1
Process Step
Machine
Temperature
Process time
Printing
Flat bed with a rotary head printing machine
25-35 °C
4-6 mins
10
Drying
Standard textile drying machine
105-130 °C
1-10 mins
Curing
Standard textile drying machine
150-155 °C
5-15 mins
Accordingly, in some embodiments, a method preparing a printed and finished textile comprises: a) applying the printing composition described herein to a textile substrate through/by a screen printer to obtain a printed textile substrate; b) drying the printed textile substrate at a temperature of about 105-130 °C for about 1-10 minutes to obtain a dried 5 substrate; and c) curing the dried substrate at a temperature of about 150-155 °C for about 5-15 minutes to obtain a cured, printed, finished textile.
The compositions and methods of the present disclosure provide increased stiffness to the printed and finished textile. In some embodiments, the stiffness of the printed and finished 10 textile lasts for at least up to 10 washes compared to the stiffness provided by application of starch that lasts for only 4 washes. In some embodiments, the stiffness of the printed and finished textile lasts up to 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 washes.
The textile substrates printed by employing the compositions and methods of the present 15 disclosure include polyester, viscose, and its blends such as cotton-polyester blends, polyester-viscose (PV) blends, polyester-cotton (PC) blends, cotton-viscose blends.
In some embodiments, ready-made objects/garments made from various textile substrates can be printed by employing the compositions and methods of the present disclosure. Exemplary 20 garments made from various textile substrates that can be printed include sarees, kurtas, shirts, trousers, dress materials, and the like.
The compositions and methods of the present disclosure provide several advantages such as:
•
Improved stiffness that lasts for at least 10-50 washes. 25
•
Durability of colors, finish, and feel after multiple washes.
•
Deviating from the conventional industrial practice of employing pigment printing binders; instead, employing a coating binder for printing.
•
Elimination of multiple steps in the manufacturing cycle namely dyeing, washing, steaming, drying, and/or finishing thereby reducing the conventional/standard 30 production time from about 50-55 hours for reactive dyeing or about 20-24 hours for
11
reactive printing
to about 20-60 minutes achieved in the present pigment printing method 10K meters of fabric. The present method therefore increases the throughput/efficiency of obtaining a printed and finished textile by 20-150 times.
•
Complete elimination of the discharge of about 10-12 liters of water per Kg of effluent waste and chemicals per day by making the entire process environment friendly. 5
The present disclosure also provides a printed and finished textile having a stiffness that is present for at least up to 10, 15, 20, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 washes. In some embodiments, the printed and finished textile is polyester or its blends such as cotton-polyester blends or polyester-viscose blends. In some mother embodiments, the printed and finished textile is 10 viscose and its blends such as polyester-viscose blends or cotton-viscose blends. Upon printing, drying, and curing of the textile, the acylate binder forms a transparent film comprising pigments over the fabric.
It is to be understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is illustrative of the disclosure and 15 not a limitation. While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this disclosure, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein. 20 Similarly, additional embodiments and features of the present disclosure will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in art based upon description provided herein.
Descriptions of well-known/conventional methods/steps and techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. Further, the disclosure herein provides for 25 examples illustrating the above-described embodiments, and in order to illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure certain aspects have been employed. The examples used herein for such illustration are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the following examples should not be construed 30 as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
12
EXAMPLES
Example 1: Exemplary Printing Compositions according to the present disclosure
The following printing compositions were prepared. To prepare the compositions, an acrylic polymer-based binder (wherein the monomer is selected from methyl methacrylate, butyl 5 acrylate, and/or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate), a silicone-based softener, and a defoamer were added to water. This was followed by the addition of urea, ammonia, an acrylic polymer-based thickener, and a fixing agent to water. Pigments were added as per desired shade.
Table 2
Component
For 1% shade
For 2% shade
For 3% shade
Above 4% shade
Water
qs to 100
qs to 100
qs to 100
qs to 100
Acrylic polymer based Binder
6.00%
13.00%
15.00%
20.00%
Silicone-based Softener
0.50%
1.00%
1.00%
2.00%
Defoamer
0.10%
0.10%
0.10%
0.10%
Urea
3.00%
3.00%
3.00%
3.00%
Ammonia
1.00%
1.00%
1.00%
1.00%
Thickener
1.40%
1.40%
1.50%
1.80%
Fixing Agent
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
2.00%
Pigment
As per shade
As per shade
As per shade
As per shade
10
The ratio of the pigment to the binder in the above examples was 1:3.
Materials: In this Example, the acrylic polymer-based binder comprising a monomer selected from methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, and/or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate was Texsof CSB100, which is commercially procured from Embassy Biogenic India Pvt. Ltd. The silicone-based 15 softener was Aminosoft, which is commercially procured from Embassy Biogenic India Pvt. Ltd. The defoamer was DF300, which is commercially procured from Embassy Biogenic India Pvt. Ltd. The acrylic polymer-based thickener was Aquasol PTN, which is commercially procured from Embassy Biogenic India Pvt. Ltd. The fixing agent was Acrofix PPF Eco, which is commercially procured from Embassy Biogenic India Pvt. Ltd. 20
13
Example 2: Preparation of printed and finished textile
4 to 6 meter of fabric was printed through a screen-printer by applying the compositions described above. The printed fabric was dried at 120°C for 3-4 min and cured at 150° C for 7-8 min to obtain printed and finished textile. The fabric employed in this Example was 100% polyester: 5
Warp = 80d/350 tpm polyester filament
Weft = 60s Cotlook VORTEX.
Example 3: Performance of the printed and finished textile
The stiffness of the printed and finished textile obtained in Example 2 was tested using 10 ISO 9073-7 Part 9 - Determination of Drape co-efficient. The stiffness lasted even after 10 washes.
Example 4: Preparation of printed and finished textile by employing reactive dyeing method and the present pigment printing method 15
A batch of sarees was prepared by employing reactive dyeing method. The reactive dyeing method took 52 hours to dye the fabric, wash the dyed fabric, silicate process, and starch treatment to provide stiffness to the finished product.
On the other hand, a batch of sarees was prepared by employing the printing composition of the present disclosure (Example 1) and printed by the process described in 20 Example 2. The fabric employed was polyester.
The sarees prepared by employing the composition and the method of the present disclosure was comparable to the sarees obtained by the reactive dyeing method in feel and texture but showed improved stiffness that lasted more than 10 washes compared to the starch stiffness of sarees obtained by reactive dyeing that lasted only for 4 washes. 25
14

We claim:

1.
A printing composition for textile, comprising:
-
an acrylic polymer-based coating binder comprising a monomer selected from methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, or any combination thereof; 5
-
a silicone-based softener;
-
an acrylic polymer-based thickener;
-
a coloring compound; and
-
water;
wherein, the composition is a pigment printing composition. 10
2.
The printing composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the textile is a polyester or its blends.
3.
The printing composition as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the coating binder is present in an amount of about 1-30 % by weight, the softener is present in an amount of about 0.1-3 % by weight, and the thickener is present in an amount of about 1-3 % by weight. 15
4.
The printing composition as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein the coating binder has a specific gravity of about 1.0-1.2 gm/cc.
5.
The printing composition as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the coating binder has a viscosity of about 200-1400 cps.
6.
The printing composition as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein the coating binder 20 has a pH of about 6-8.
7.
The printing composition as claimed in any one of claims 1-6, wherein the softener comprises one or more of organic polysiloxane, ethylenediamine, aluminum nitrate, polyvinyl alcohol, and ethyl orthosilicate.
8.
The printing composition as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the softener has a 25 pH of about 4-6 and a specific gravity of about 0.886-1.086 gm/cc.
9.
The printing composition as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the thickener comprises an acrylic acid homopolymer.
10.
The printing composition as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the composition comprises one or more additives selected from a defoamer, a fixing agent, urea, and 30 ammonia.
15
11.
The printing composition as claimed in claim 10, wherein the defoamer is present in an amount of about 0.1-0.5 % by weight, the fixing agent is present in an amount of about 0.5-2% by weight, urea is present in an amount of about 2-4% by weight, and ammonia is present in an amount of about 0.5-1.5 % by weight.
12.
The printing composition as claimed in any one of claims 1-11, wherein the ratio of the 5 coloring compound to the coating binder ranges from about 1:2 to 1:6, about 1:2 to 1:5, about 1:2 to 1:4.5, about 1:2.5 to 1:3, about 1:2 to 1:3, about 1:2.5 to 1:5, about 1:2.5 to 1:4.5, or about 1:2.5 to 1:4.
13.
A method for preparing a printed and finished textile, comprising:
a.
applying the printing composition as claimed in any one of claims 1-12 to a textile 10 substrate to obtain a printed textile substrate;
b.
drying the printed textile substrate to obtain a dried substrate; and
c.
curing the dried substrate to obtain a printed and finished textile.
14.
The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the textile substrate is a polyester or its blends.
15.
The method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the printing composition is applied to 15 the textile substrate by a screen printer.
16.
The method as claimed in any one of claims 13-15, wherein the drying is performed at a temperature of about 105-130 °C for about 1-10 minutes.
17.
The method as claimed in any one of claims 13-16, wherein the curing is performed at a temperature of about 150-155 °C for about 5-15 minutes. 20
18.
The method as claimed in any one of claims 13-17, wherein the textile substrate is selected from polyester, polyester-viscose blends, polyester-cotton blends, and cotton-viscose blends.
19.
The method as claimed in any one of claims 13-18, wherein the printed and finished textile is obtained by the method in about 20-60 minutes. 25
20.
A printed and finished textile, wherein said printed and finished textile has a stiffness that is present for at least up to 10 washes, wherein the textile is a polyester or its blend.

Dated this 16th day of August 2024