FAQ Quality

Flock textiles are available in the most diversified qualities, for instance as fabric for the apparel industry, as upholstery fabric, as inlet fabric for shoe finishing materials and many more. Normally, these products are industrially produced on continuous plants. The companies manufacturing these are quite well informed about the quality requirements and are able to specifically control such with regards to the final resistance by selecting the correct adhesives and flock qualities.

Textiles are in daily use and therefore subject to a heavy work load, be it perspiration-, oil- or grass stains, which effect the textile and with it certainly the flock finishing.
It therefore is necessary that the producer, the user and the flocker is made familiar with these influences in order to let the end user know of in form of the washing/cleaning instructions of the resp. textile piece.
The so-called coated textiles create a problem, as even today it is not possible to print or to flock the mostly water-resistant fabrics with a sufficient fastness. Here, the experts talk that the product is not wettable. Imported goods and anonymous textiles make it almost impossible for the processor just by an optical determination or by inquiring with the manufacturers to determine whether the resp. product may create difficulties. It is therefore absolutely necessary to carry out resp. pre-tests with these fabrics. And this may get quite different results depending on the technique used (direct flock, transfer flock, plotter flock, inkjet flock). Generally, one may request for wettable, standard textiles the following fastness level for flock:

• Direct flocking: 60° C washing fastness and chemical cleaning fastness (in some cases and prior to a pre-test even boiling water fastness).
• Transfer flocking: the same as with direct flocking
• Plotter flock normally is limited to a washing fastness of 60° C and to chemical cleaning fastness.
• Inkjet flock normally is washable with 40° or 60° C, depending on the technique used.

This is understood to be the subsequent flocking of cut outs or of already finished textiles. With the part flocking very often different materials of sports and leisure wear, rain jackets, bags, socks, caps, etc., are being flocked. Normally for this method several flocking processes are available, such as direct flocking, transfer flock, high frequency- and weldable flock, plotter flock or inkjet flock. If the producer still has a complete influence on flock and adhesive choice with direct flock, already with transfer flock, the parameter selection is limited the adhesive system, however, might still be chosen. With plotter flock or inkjet flock, normally the influence on the individual production parameter is either strongly limited or not available at all, as one has to work with the materials prepared by the industry.

Here we line up a few parameter in note form:
 

• Direct flock:
  Correct choice of the sieve
  Correct mixing ratio of the adhesive with 2 components-adhesives
  Proper drying and curing – reliable drying equipment
  A proper final cleaning.
• Transfer flock:
  Same as above.
  In addition some remarks on transfer presses:
  These should be checked on their seam-temperature and also on their capability for continuous operation in regular intervals.
• Plotter flock:
  he products should be cutable without problems and also be degradable, also with smaller details as well.
  One has to care for a good flock density.
  Regarding ironing-on and transfer presses, the same parameter are valid as for transfer flock.
• Ink-Jet-Flock:
  The selection of the correct ink-jet ink is decisive. Please ask your flock material supplier on its best recommendation.
  Transfer preses: Here as well the same parameter as with transfer flock are valid.

Please always observe the technical advises of the industry and undertake resp. pre-tests.