SUBLIMATION

Dye Sublimation, as a process is really very simple but it can have an assortment of variables such as storage conditions, material being applied to, temperature of transfer press, and the pressure of the press. It is the method of applying an image to specially coated ceramics, metals, flock and polyester cloth, using three main ingredients: sublimation ink, heat and pressure.

The specific uses of dye sublimation printing are transferring dye-sub printed paper using the special dye sublimation inks onto fabrics, mouse pads, mugs, tiles, mats, etc.

For Jones, dye sublimation is used for our many floor mats that are printed in house. From our customer’s files, we are able to print out the reverse image on our state of the art plotter, and use heat and pressure on a special press. After a mere 20 seconds, the sublimation ink has transferred to the substrate and a proof of sorts is created.

If color match is critical, this can then be taken to our color specialist in the prepress department to see if this print out will match the standard begin used. In order to match the print and standard exactly, each mat is examined in a 5000K light source that is designed to mimic sunlight. This allows our color specialist to ensure the highest quality possible.

Of course, the benefits of using the sublimation dye process for ad specialty designs results in vivid, durable, photographic-style design reproduction.  The dye is literally infused into the polyester fabric under high temperatures.  This results in graphics that are usually sharper and more durable than traditional silk screen printing, and of course the entire shirt can be dyed with graphics including the front, back and sleeves.  The process of sublimation for t-shirts (wholesale, customized) offers a more durable, wearable image that stands up to repeated washing.

Currently, the process is used on white apparel made of synthetic fabric—specifically polyesters.  With sublimation dye, your custom design (or printing from photographs/digital files) sensibilities can take flight—you can literally use almost in type of design scheme with a wide color palette for outstanding results!

Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas phase without passing through the intermediate liquid phase. Sublimation is an endothermic phase transition that occurs at temperatures and pressures below a substance's triple point in itsphase diagram. The reverse process of sublimation is desublimation or deposition, in which a substance passes directly from a gas to a solid phase.

At normal pressures, most chemical compounds and elements possess three different states at different temperatures. In these cases, the transition from the solid to the gaseous state requires an intermediate liquid state. Note, however, that the pressure referred to here is the partial pressure of the substance, not the total (e.g. atmospheric) pressure of the entire system. So, all solids that possess an appreciable vapor pressure at a certain temperature usually can sublime in air (e.g. water ice just below 0 °C). For some substances, such ascarbon and arsenic, sublimation is much easier than evaporation from the melt, because the pressure of their triple point is very high, and it is difficult to obtain them as liquids.

Sublimation requires additional energy and is an endothermic change. The enthalpy of sublimation (also called heat of sublimation) can be calculated as the enthalpy of fusion plus the enthalpy of vaporization.