Continuous Pigment Dyeing (TPC)

Continuous Pigment Dyeing (TPC) is designed for high-productivity textile dyeing. In the TPC process using STARPRINT TPC pigments, the dyeing is applied continuously to all types of fibers via padding + curing (foulard+stenter) (with or without infrared pre-drying), with a highly stable dye bath and a foulard cleaning that can be done with water. It also stands out for the absence of thermomigration or sublimation issues, no spotting on lycra, and the achievement of excellent fastness properties.

In practice, process control depends on two key levers: the bath stability and the pigment behavior along the application line. The formulation includes an anti-migrator GP GAL AMP for continuous dyeing with pigments, which helps ensure bath stability, prevents foam formation, and improves leveling and fastness—supporting a more even distribution across the fabric width. For fixation, the self-crosslinking acrylic binder GP BINDER TPC eco for continuous pigment dyeing provides a high-performance base and good adhesion on synthetic fibers, with a formaldehyde-free formulation.

The TPC flow is organized as a two-stage process: impregnation, drying, and polymerization in the stenter unit, with the option of pre-drying using infrared. A typical operating scheme includes drying and curing at 165°C (~2 minutes total), with one key point: it does not require subsequent washing and combines dyeing and finishing in the same bath, depending on the formulation and the objective.

From an industrial standpoint, TPC is characterized by its resource efficiency: achieving a 99% water saving, 65%-85% energy savings, and reduced wastewater compared with conventional dyeing, while maintaining reproducibility criteria and a more “clean” process.