Thermochromic Colour Changing Screen Ink for Fabric

Thermochromic Screen Printing Ink for Textiles: Reveal the Magic of Colour Change

Bring the magic of colour transformation to your fabric creations with our Thermochromic Screen Printing Ink for Textiles! This innovative, temperature-sensitive ink adds a touch of wonder, revealing hidden designs or shifting colours with a simple change in temperature. Perfect for adding an interactive element to apparel, accessories, and more, this ink opens up a world of creative possibilities.

Two-Part System: Mix Before Use. This kit contains 50% Thermochromic water-based slurry and 50% water-based binder. Equal parts of each must be thoroughly mixed to create the final ink.

How to Use:

1. Mix: Combine equal parts of the slurry and binder until fully incorporated.
2. Screen Print: Apply 2-3 thin, even coats using a screen printing method. Do not apply with a brush. Brush application will result in thick, uneven coats and a milky/cloudy appearance.
3. Heat Cure: After printing, heat cure the textile to set the ink. Keep heat low and short: stay below 180°C, as briefly as possible, and avoid prolonged heat above 75°C. Brief heat at 100°C for 1–2 minutes is fine.
4. Care Instructions: Wash printed items on a cool wash.

Key Features & Considerations:

• Temperature Sensitive: The ink changes colour when the temperature rises above the chosen activation temperature, becoming translucent. It returns to its original colour as it cools.
• Textile Application: Suitable for printing onto fabric. Thorough testing is essential to determine suitability for your chosen fabric.
• Important: This ink cannot be mixed with other colours or layered.
• Even Application is Key: Thin, even coats are essential for optimal results. Screen printing is the recommended application method.
• Heat Curing Required: Heat curing is necessary to fix the ink to the fabric.

Creative Applications:

This thermochromic screen printing ink is ideal for creating unique, colour-changing designs. Imagine:

• Promotional Apparel: T-shirts that reveal a company logo when warmed.
• Fashion & Apparel: Clothing with hidden patterns that appear with body heat.
• Novelty Items: Colour-changing tote bags or scarves.
• Personalised Gifts: Textiles with heat-sensitive messages.
• Special Effects & Theatrical Wear: Costumes that change colour on stage.

The Science Behind the Magic:

Thermochromic inks contain special pigments that react to temperature changes. Our ink uses leuco dyes, which show their colour below the activation temperature and fade to translucent above it, revealing any design printed underneath. With our Touch & Reveal (28°C) and Heat & Reveal (45°C) inks, the colour is there at room temperature and fades when warmed. With Chill & Reveal (15°C), it's the other way round: the ink is translucent at room temperature and the colour appears when chilled. In every case the change reverses as the temperature returns. Microencapsulation protects these delicate dyes, ensuring even colour distribution and durability on suitable textiles.

Important Note: Thorough testing on your chosen fabric is absolutely crucial before any production run. Consider fabric type, weave, dye content, and intended use. This ink is designed for use on textiles but results can vary. We highly recommend testing a sample first.

See It in Action:

Customers have used SFXC thermochromic ink on textiles in some lovely ways. Adam Macgechan printed heat and reveal T-shirts (on Instagram), adding our scented pigment too, and FabTextiles created a colour-changing screen-printed dress (on Instagram). The videos below show more ways thermochromic ink can be used on textiles.

Cleaning: Clean-up is simple with warm soapy water.

Storage and Handling: Keep it in a cool, dark place, ideally at 20°C or below, with the lid tightly closed, and use within 12 months. Don't let it freeze, and don't store it with food or drink. Direct sunlight and UV damage the thermochromic materials.

Before use, please read the Technical Data Sheet (TDS) and the Safety Data Sheets for the thermochromic slurry (SDS) and the binder (SDS). For step-by-step advice, read our guide: How to screen print thermochromic ink →

Important Information:

The information provided in this product description is for guidance only. Thorough testing of our products is essential before any print runs, projects, installations, or production. This will allow you to confirm suitability for your specific application and ensure the desired results.

Shipping: Orders over 1kg will be shipped via DHL due to shipping restrictions on liquids. Orders under 1kg can be shipped via standard delivery.

Product Variations: Colours and packaging may vary slightly.