Question

Thickener is an important component of a printing paste. The following are types of thickeners used in textile printing. A. Sodium Alginate
B. Polyacrylic Acid
C. Dextrin
D. Diethylene glycol
E. Urea Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

• A. \( \text{A and D Only} \)
• B. \( \text{A, B and C Only} \)
• C. \( \text{C and D Only} \)
• D. \( \text{E Only} \)

Hint:

Thickeners are like "textile glue." They must hold the dye in place but must also be easy to wash off after the color is fixed.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept: Thickeners are high-molecular-weight compounds that provide the necessary viscosity to a printing paste. They prevent the dye from "bleeding" or spreading beyond the design boundaries.

Step 1: Identify the actual thickening agents.

• Sodium Alginate (A): Derived from seaweed, it is the most popular thickener for reactive dyes because it does not react with the dye itself.
• Polyacrylic Acid (B): A synthetic thickener widely used in pigment printing.
• Dextrin (C): A starch-based thickener used for many types of dyes, especially where high solids content is needed.

Step 2: Identify the other components.

• Diethylene glycol (D): This acts as a solvent or humectant, not a thickener.
• Urea (E): As discussed earlier, this is a hygroscopic agent used to assist dye solubility and moisture absorption during steaming.