A Comparative Analysis Of Printable Fabrics For Use In Textile Conservation

Aimee Sims

This project analyzes printable cotton fabrics that are currently commercially available, as well as “home

made” printable cotton sheets, for suitability in conservation practice.

Queen’s University Art Conservation Program

Materials •  Cotton Backed with Freezer Paper •  Cotton Impregnated with Sodium Alginate •  Cotton Impregnated with Methylcellulose •  Cotton Backed with Testfabrics Inc. Backing Paper •  Avery® Printable Fabric •  EQ® Printables Inkjet Fabric Sheets •  Printed Treasures® Inkjet Printable Fabric •  June Tailor® Colorfast Sew In Inkjet Fabric Sheets •  Jacquard Inkjet Fabric Sheets™ •  Epson® Stylus Photo 2200 •  Epson® Ultrachrome ink

Experiment 1: pH Testing •  To determine whether the inks modified the pH of the fabric or

if the commercial brands were acidic. •  Method followed was “Determination of pH of the aqueous

extract.”

Experiment 3: Colourfastness to Crocking Wet and Dry •  To determine if the ink would transfer to another substrate

when rubbed against it. •  Method as described by Britton and Vuori, 2008. •  Results analyzed using the CIE 1976 L*a*b* colorimetric

coordinates.

With special thanks to Michael Doutre, Rosaleen Hill, Alison Murray, H.F. Shurvell, Krysia Spirydowicz, Season Tse, Jan Vuori and Scott Williams

Commercial brands of printable cotton and the template that was printed on them.

Black swatches about to be pH tested.

Experiment 2: Colourfastness to Water •  To simulate accidental wetting of a museum textile in

contact with an inkjet print. •  Method followed was the modified version of the AATCC

Test Method 107-2002. •  Results were calculated using a spectrophotometer.

Washfastness testing, sodium alginate swatches and multifiber fabric.

Conclusions •  Sodium alginate and methylcellulose impregnated cotton is not suitable for printing conservation grade textiles.

•  The commercial cotton brands showed similar results to the home made printable fabrics. Brands Backing Adhesive   pH   Wash fastness   Crocking Dry   Crocking Wet  

Sodium Alginate   -   7.4-7.8   Visual and quantitative staining -   -  

Methylcellulose   -   7.3-7.6   Visual and quantitative staining

No Significant Colour Transfer   Significant Colour Transfer  

Testfabrics   Organic Wax   7.2-7.6   Almost no visual or quantitative staining

No Significant Colour Transfer   Significant Colour Transfer  

Freezer paper   Polyethylene   7.2-7.5   Almost no visual or quantitative staining

Significant Colour Transfer   Significant Colour Transfer  

Jacquard   Polyethylene   6.7-7.2   Almost no visual or quantitative staining

Significant Colour Transfer   Significant Colour Transfer  

Avery   Polyester   7.2   Almost no visual or quantitative staining

No Significant Colour Transfer   Significant Colour Transfer  

June Tailor   Hydrocarbon Resin tackified

ethylene vinyl acetate hot melt  

7.3-7.4   Almost no visual or quantitative staining

No Significant Colour Transfer   Significant Colour Transfer  

EQ Printables   Polyester   4.2-5.5   - -   -  

Printed Treasures   Beeswax   4.0-4.5   - -   -  

Wet crocking test on blotter paper.

2014