Technique: Discharge Printing

From Prochem's instruction sheet on using thiox:


Discharge printing on cotton and cellulose fibers, including silk.

Make the discharge paste. Choose one of the following recipes below to make one cup of discharge paste:

Discharge paste made from scratch

1. Measure the following ingredients in the order given:

¾ cup water
½ tsp Metaphos
¼ tsp Thiox
½ tsp PRO Dye Activator or Soda Ash

2. Once dissolved, slowly add 2 tsp of PRO Thick SH, while stirring rapidly.

3. Let mixture stand for 10 to 15 minutes.

Discharge paste using PRO Print Paste Mix SH

1. Measure 5½ level Tbl of PRO Print Paste Mix SH into a dry container. Measure 1 cup of warm water into a second container.

2. Add PRO Print Paste Mix SH to the water while stirring rapidly.

3. Continue stirring until a smooth paste is obtained.

4. Let stand 1 hour or overnight for smoothest results.

5. In a separate container, dissolve ¼ tsp Thiox and ½ tsp of PRO Dye Activator or Soda Ash in room temperature water, each in a separate container.

6. When thoroughly dissolved, add both to one cup of prepared Print Paste Mix SH.

2. Apply the discharge paste to the fabric. Do not allow the discharge paste to completely dry on the fabric before steaming or the Thiox does not strip the color. Steam for 20 to 30 minutes. Discard discharge paste after one day.

3. Neutralize the silk, after discharging. Mix together 1 gallon of warm water and 1 Tbl of Acetic Acid 56% OR 11 Tbl of white distilled vinegar 5%.. Soak the silk for 10 minutes. Rinse well and wash hot with ½ tsp Synthrapol per pound of fiber and dry. You do not need to neutralize cotton, rayon or linen fabric.

If the color is not discharging rapidly enough then increase the amount of Thiox. You can use up to five times the amount listed in all the recipes above without harming the fabric.