DEKAPRINT 2000 Water-Based Screen Printing Ink for Light Fabrics

DEKAPRINT 2000 – water-based screen printing ink for light and medium-coloured fabrics

DEKAPRINT 2000 by DEKA is a ready-to-use, water-based screen printing ink (film printing ink) for pigment printing on fabric. You can use it on light and medium-coloured textiles, including synthetic fibres and mixed fabrics. According to DEKA, the prints have excellent lightfastness and are rub-fast, wash-fast and boil-fast. Fastness also depends on the fabric, however. Do a test print including a machine wash before you print on the actual textile.

Stir the ink well before use and it is ready to print. If it is too thick for you, stir in a few drops of water. All shades in the range can be mixed with one another. The tin contains 250 ml. Choose your colour from the options.

Fixing the print

The print must be fixed to make it wash-fast and rub-fast. Remove the finish from finished (sized) fabrics beforehand. For natural fibres you have two options:

• Fix the dried prints for 3–5 minutes at 120–140 °C, for example by ironing on the reverse.
• Alternatively, use fixing agent CN (40 g per 1 l of ink). The fabric should then rest for 4 weeks at room temperature before the first wash. Ink mixed with fixing agent keeps for only 2 days.
• On synthetic fibres you always need fixing agent CN plus 3–5 minutes of heat treatment; according to DEKA, the best fastness is achieved at 110–130 °C.

Printing, lightening and storage

All types of stencil can be used, but the coating must be insoluble in petrol and water. According to DEKA, squeegees with rounded edges work better. To lighten the ink, use Colourless 65-00 (transparent) or White 65-92 (semi-opaque to opaque). Add no more than 20 % white to the ink or vice versa, and avoid mixtures of around 50:50, as they thicken quickly. Ink mixed with white keeps for only 2 days. Without fixing agent, the ink keeps well when stored in a cool place and does not form a skin; cover opened tins with a sheet of parchment paper. Clean screens, squeegees and equipment with cold water straight after printing. Observe the regulations of your local wastewater authority.

DEKAPRINT 2000 for light fabrics product details

• Manufacturer: DEKA, DEKAPRINT 2000
• Type: water-based screen printing ink (film printing ink), ready to use
• Suitable for: light and medium-coloured fabrics, including synthetics and mixed fabrics
• Fastness: lightfast, rub-fast, wash-fast and boil-fast
• Contents: 250 ml per tin
• Fixing agent: DEKA fixing agent CN (40 g per 1 l of ink)
• Cleaning equipment: straight away with cold water

You will also need: a screen printing frame with stencil (coating insoluble in petrol and water) and a squeegee; for synthetic fibres and fixing with fixing agent CN, also DEKA fixing agent CN. For lightening: DEKA Colourless 65-00 or White 65-92.

Warning: Contains reaction mass of 5-chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one and 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (3:1). CAS no. 55965-84-9. May produce an allergic reaction.