Flocking is a technique that uses special processes to fix short fibers (flocks) onto a base material, forming a fluffy surface.
Electrostatic flocking utilizes the property of like charges repelling and unlike charges attracting. The flock fibers become negatively charged and, under the influence of an electric field, fly vertically towards the positively charged surface of the object to be flocked, where they are adhered by an adhesive to form a flocked layer. It produces good flock uprightness, high density, and uniform flocking, resulting in good hand feel and appearance quality. Suitable for flocking objects of various shapes and materials, it is currently the most widely used flocking technique, but it requires significant equipment investment and is sensitive to environmental humidity.
Chemical flocking involves coating a base fabric with a chemical adhesive, then scattering the flock fibers onto the adhesive for adhesion, followed by drying. This process is relatively simple and has lower equipment costs, but the flock adhesion and uniformity are not as good as electrostatic flocking, resulting in a slightly inferior flocking effect. It is generally used for products where high flocking quality is not required. Hot-melt flocking involves evenly sprinkling hot-melt adhesive powder onto a base fabric, melting the powder through heating, pressing the flock into the adhesive layer, and then fixing the flock after cooling. Flocked products exhibit good washability and abrasion resistance, making them suitable for products that need to withstand friction and washing. However, it requires precise control of temperature and pressure; otherwise, the flocking effect will be compromised.
Printed flocking combines printing techniques. First, patterns or designs are printed on the fabric. Then, adhesive is applied to the printed areas before flocking, ensuring the flock adheres only to the printed area to create a specific pattern effect. It can produce a variety of exquisite patterns and designs, possessing strong decorative properties. It is often used for partial decoration in home textiles and clothing, but production efficiency is relatively low, and the fineness of the patterns is limited by the flocking process.
