This study investigated the rheological properties and printing performance of neem gum as an eco-friendly thickening agent for textile printing. The rheological behavior of neem gum was characterized under various conditions including pH, reducing agents, and storage time. Neem gum exhibited suitable pseudoplastic and thixotropic properties for textile printing applications. The printing performance of neem gum was evaluated on cotton and wool in comparison to conventional thickeners like alginate and gum Arabic. Results showed that neem gum provided comparable or superior color strength, fastness properties, and print definition compared to the conventional thickeners. The printed fabrics also demonstrated improved mechanical properties and UV protection. Additionally, neem gum maintained antimicrobial activity during storage. This study demonstrates the potential of neem gum as an effective, sustainable alternative to synthetic thickeners in textile printing, offering both technical performance and environmental benefits. The study highlights the promising properties of neem gum as a thickener for textile printing applications, showcasing its suitable pseudoplastic and thixotropic characteristics. When applied to cotton and wool fabrics, neem gum not only matched but often surpassed the color strength, fastness properties, and print definition of traditional thickeners like alginate and gum Arabic. Furthermore, the fabrics printed with neem gum exhibited enhanced mechanical properties and provid-ed UV protection, while also maintaining antimicrobial activity during storage. Overall, the findings underscore neem gum's potential as an effective and sustainable alternative to synthetic thickeners in textile printing, combining excellent technical performance with environmental advantages. |
