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Guar Gum in Textile Printing
In rotary and flatbed screen printing on cotton, viscose, polyester-cotton blends and silk, the printing paste must carry dye to the fabric, hold the design precisely, and then wash out cleanly leaving no residue. Guar gum — often lightly derivatized to carboxymethyl guar (CMG) or hydroxypropyl guar (HPG) — delivers all three. It provides high viscosity at low usage levels (0.5–3% of paste weight), is stable across the pH range used in reactive and acid printing, and dissolves cleanly in the subsequent wash-off step. Compared to tamarind kernel powder or alginate, guar-based thickeners are cost-effective and widely available.
Compatible Printing Systems
- Reactive printing on cotton and viscose — guar/CMG delivers smooth color yield and sharp print definition
- Acid printing on polyamide (nylon) and silk — guar derivatives tolerate pH 3–5
- Pigment printing — guar functions as a binder-compatible thickener
- Discharge printing — guar maintains viscosity after reducing-agent addition
- Disperse printing on polyester — guar derivatives withstand the fixing temperature
Specification for Textile Grade
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Viscosity (1% solution, 25°C) | 5000 – 6000 cps |
| Mesh size | 100 – 200 mesh |
| Moisture | ≤ 12% |
| pH tolerance (hydrated) | 4 – 10 (standard); CMG tolerates lower pH |
| Insoluble residue | ≤ 3% |
| Washability | Washes clean at 60–80°C with soap or standard wash agents |
| HS Code | 1302.32.90 |
Why Guar vs Other Thickeners
Textile printers typically have three thickener options: guar derivatives (CMG, HPG), alginate (sodium alginate), and tamarind kernel powder (TKP). Guar is the lowest-cost and most consistently available option. Alginate is preferred for very sharp detail on reactive printing but costs 3–5x more. TKP is used domestically in India but has limited global supply and less consistent viscosity. For most commercial printing — especially high-volume continuous printing — a well-made guar/CMG paste is the industry workhorse.
Packaging and Supply
25 kg multi-wall paper bags with poly liner (standard), 50 kg bags for Indian domestic textile mills, and 1 MT jumbo bags for high-volume continuous print houses. Container capacity: 18–20 MT per 20ft FCL. Lead time: 15–21 days from confirmed PO.
Export Markets We Supply
We ship textile-grade guar gum to printing mills and converters in Pakistan (Faisalabad, Karachi), Bangladesh, Turkey (Bursa), Egypt, Portugal, Italy, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and large domestic Indian textile hubs (Surat, Erode, Tirupur, Ludhiana).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use food-grade guar gum for textile printing?
Technically yes, but it's inefficient. Food-grade has tighter microbial and heavy-metal specs that textile printing doesn't require, and the viscosity profile is usually lower than optimal. Textile-grade guar (5000-6000 cps) is cheaper and better-suited.
What's the typical paste viscosity range for reactive printing?
Hydrated paste viscosity is typically 15,000-30,000 cps measured on Brookfield RVT at 10 rpm. The exact target depends on screen mesh, fabric and dye concentration. Our export team can share standard paste recipes on request.
Do you supply derivatized guar (CMG, HPG)?
Yes. Standard guar gum covers most textile-grade applications. For printers requiring faster wash-off, better pH tolerance or sharper detail, we supply carboxymethyl guar (CMG) and hydroxypropyl guar (HPG) on contract basis.
What's the MOQ for textile-grade guar?
One 20ft FCL (18-20 MT) is standard. For mills consuming 1-5 MT/month, we can consolidate with other buyers; contact our export team to discuss.
How does guar gum compare in cost vs tamarind kernel powder?
Guar gum is typically similar to or slightly higher in price per kg than TKP, but its viscosity-per-kg efficiency is higher. For a given paste viscosity, you use less guar than TKP, so effective cost is lower. Guar also delivers more consistent lot-to-lot performance.