Material
Polyamide Adhesive
A thermoplastic hot melt powder dusted onto wet DTF ink that bonds the transfer to fabric under heat and pressure.
Definition
Polyamide adhesive is a thermoplastic hot melt powder applied to wet DTF ink immediately after printing. The powder bonds to the ink film as it cures in a low-heat oven, forming a continuous adhesive layer on the back of the transfer. When the transfer is heat pressed onto fabric at 285 to 325 F, the polyamide softens and flows into the fibers, then cools to form a permanent bond. Polyamide is the industry standard for DTF because it bonds to cotton, polyester, nylon, and most blends, and survives industrial wash cycles. Different polyamide grades trade off softness, durability, and stretch.
Related Terms
Hot Melt Adhesive
Any thermoplastic adhesive that softens and bonds under heat, then re-solidifies on cooling.
DTF
Direct-to-film transfer printing process used to produce full-color heat-applied graphics for apparel decoration.
PET Film
A polyester terephthalate carrier film used as the printing substrate for DTF and UV DTF transfers.
Heat Press
A machine that applies controlled heat, pressure, and time to bond a transfer to a substrate.