"Powderless DTF Printing" has become a hot topic in the DTF printing market over the past year. This printing solution eliminates the step of applying hot melt powder in DTF printing and instead uses liquid adhesive. In other words, the process of powderless DTF printing involves using a no powder DTF printer to first print DTF color and white inks onto the DTF film, then printing a layer of adhesive, and finally moving directly to the oven for drying and curing.

On the surface, this powderless DTF printing solution seems like an ideal fix, simplifying the printing workflow and reducing dust hazards in the work environment. However, after conducting in-depth testing and analysis of the final products in the market, it becomes clear that its potential disadvantages and technical bottlenecks prevent it from meeting high-quality production demands.

Issues with Powderless DTF Printing

Impact on Print Heads  

One of the major issues with powderless DTF printing is its impact on printheads. The hot melt powder used in standard DTF printing can operate stably under a wide range of climatic conditions. In contrast, the liquid adhesive used in powderless DTF printers can easily solidify in low-temperature and dry environments, leading to printhead clogging. Although heating or adding moisture can improve its flowability, excessive temperature, prolonged heating time, or overly high moisture content can affect the adhesive's viscosity and even degrade its components, compromising its long-term adhesion performance.

Difficulties in Peeling  

As mentioned above, measures taken to improve adhesive flowability, such as heating or adding water, will affect adhesion. Insufficient adhesion can lead to a series of problems, including ink transfer issues, fading, and cracking of prints. In our tests of powderless DTF printing products, residues often appeared during peeling, even leading to pattern cracking. This situation lowers the yield of the final products and results in financial losses for DTF printing business operators.

Insufficient Wash Resistance  

Durability and lifespan are critical in the apparel decoration industry. However, powderless DTF printing suffers from notably poor wash resistance and lower wash fastness, making designs prone to peeling after washing. That is a fatal flaw for products that demand high durability, significantly limiting the applicability of powderless DTF printing solutions.

Lack of Elasticity  

Elasticity is a very important characteristic in the application of fabrics like sportswear and DTF t-shirt printing. Standard DTF printed patterns generally possess good elasticity, allowing them to meet the diverse needs of sports clothing. However, the patterns produced by powderless DTF printing exhibit relatively poor elasticity, severely limiting the types of fabrics that can be used. This phenomenon affects the comfort of the products and may also restrict design diversity, putting businesses at a disadvantage in market competition.

Future Outlook and Challenges

As technology developers and equipment manufacturers, we must continue to work hard to overcome these challenges to bring truly safe, efficient, and high-quality printing solutions to the industry. Only by finding a balance between quality and safety can we genuinely contribute to the sustainable development of the industry.

Hanrun Paper has always focused on DTF innovation technology, continuously exploring the best formulations for powderless DTF printing solutions and striving to drive technological advancements. Up to now, Hanrun Paper has successfully obtained many invention patents for DTF film and DTF printers. We look forward to future DTF products better meeting the needs of digital printing customers and urge everyone to adopt a rational attitude towards new technologies and products. Let us collectively anticipate the continuous progress of the DTF market, helping the printing industry achieve higher quality and efficiency.