(2) Development of noncontact-type heat fixation machine

To make ink-jet functions the core of future dyeing processes the development of heat treatment which is capable of continuous processing is necessary. To substantiate it, in Mr. Hiroshi Urakawa's development section in the Graduate School of Kyoto Institute of Technology they are working on the development of a new type of fixation machine with microwaves as a heat source. It is because there has been a possibility that fabrics would be contaminated through direct contact from the heat medium with dyes previously applied during contact-type, heat-sensitive fixation.

To solve the problem, they are establishing parameters for moisture percentage and urea concentration in fabrics to accurately confirm the difference in color performance on fabrics and to precisely realize a desired color performance through the differences in changing values of the moisture percentage and urea concentration with microwaves. By doing so, the color performance on fabrics may be realized precisely.

Past small experiments have confirmed that if the surface temperature of fabrics with microwaves applied is over 100°C, it leads to a high fixation. For the microwave device, the way to enable continuous processing is under review. All mentioned above is still under research, and test results by fabric and other detailed data are concealed.