DTF Transfer Safety
Product Safety Summary
One printable document for the finished transfer: composition by material, classification of the inputs, handling, first aid, fire, disposal and regulatory status.
Prepared by ProTransfers from the manufacturers' Safety Data Sheets and product safety information. This document is not a Safety Data Sheet. It summarises, without softening or addition, the safety documentation for each material in a finished ProTransfers DTF transfer, with the manufacturer's identity replaced by a referral offer. The complete manufacturer documents, with the manufacturer named, are available on request; see section 9.
1. Identification
- Product: ProTransfers direct-to-film (DTF) heat transfer, a printed, powdered and cured design on a release carrier, cut to shape.
- Intended use: Decoration of textiles by heat press, following the ProTransfers heat-press instructions. Not for food contact.
- Supplier of the finished product: ProTransfers. Support: see section 9.
- Status of the finished product: A manufactured article under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200(c), and outside the standard's Safety Data Sheet requirement under paragraph (b)(6)(v). The materials below are the chemical inputs to that article; each has its own manufacturer Safety Data Sheet.
2. What is in a finished transfer
Three materials. Two remain on the garment; one does not.
- Ink — water-based pigment inkjet ink. After drying and curing, the pigment and the polyurethane binder remain as the printed film; the water and the humectants are driven off.
- Adhesive powder — fully reacted thermoplastic polyurethane. Fused into a continuous layer at curing; melts and bonds the print to the fabric at the press. Remains on the garment.
- Carrier film — coated polyethylene terephthalate. Carries the print to the press; peeled off and discarded. Not part of the finished garment.
The three ink families are reported separately below because their compositions differ. Their classification and physical data are reported identically.
3. Process-colour ink (cyan, magenta, yellow, black)
Prepared from: Manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, 16 sections, prepared to Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 (CLP) format; edition 17 September 2026; technical source 5 January 2026, version 2.0.0.1.
- Form
- Water-based pigment ink; liquid; weak odour
- Classification of the input
- Not classified as hazardous under GHS / CLP. No hazard pictogram, no signal word, no hazard statement.
- Physical state
- Liquid
- Odour
- Weak
- pH
- 7 to 10
- Flammability
- Not flammable; not explosive; not oxidising
- Viscosity
- 3.0 to 5.0 cP
- Toxicological endpoints
- Skin corrosion/irritation, serious eye damage/irritation, skin sensitisation, respiratory sensitisation, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity (single and repeated) and aspiration hazard: classification criteria not met on available data.
- Chemical inventories
- Reported components listed on TSCA (United States), DSL (Canada), EINECS (EU) and the Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Australian, New Zealand and Philippine inventories.
| Component | CAS | Share | Role | In the finished transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 7732-18-5 | 70 % | Carrier | Driven off during drying and curing |
| Diethylene glycol | 111-46-6 | 14 % | Humectant — keeps the ink from drying in the print head | Driven off during drying and curing |
| Polyurethane dispersion | 51852-81-4 | 6 % | Binder — the film the pigment sits in once cured | Remains in the finished transfer |
| Glycerol | 56-81-5 | 6 % | Humectant | Driven off during drying and curing |
| Pigment Blue 15 (copper phthalocyanine) — cyan | 147-14-8 | 4 % | Colourant | Remains in the finished transfer |
| Pigment Violet 19 (quinacridone) — magenta | 1047-16-1 | 4 % | Colourant | Remains in the finished transfer |
| Pigment Yellow 155 — yellow | 68516-73-4 | 4 % | Colourant | Remains in the finished transfer |
| Pigment Black 7 (carbon black) — black | 1333-86-4 | 4 % | Colourant | Remains in the finished transfer |
Shares are the manufacturer's reported weight percentages. Humectants are driven off during drying and curing; trace residues are possible.
Handling the raw material
- Handle in a well-ventilated area and avoid contact with the eyes.
- In general situations the manufacturer reports that eye, hand, respiratory and skin protection are not needed; our print operators wear safety glasses and gloves as a matter of practice.
- Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames and hot surfaces; store closed, cool and dry, away from strong oxidisers, strong acids and strong bases.
First aid (raw material)
- Eyes
- Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Consult a physician if discomfort occurs.
- Skin
- The manufacturer reports no harm in general situations and that first aid is not needed. Wash with soap and water.
- Inhalation
- Move to fresh air. If breathing is difficult, consult a physician.
- Swallowed
- Do not induce vomiting. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Call a physician or poison control centre.
Fire
Not flammable. Not considered a significant fire risk, although containers may burn. Suitable extinguishing media: water spray or fog, alcohol-resistant foam, dry powder, carbon dioxide or sand. Do not use a direct water jet.
Heating, burning and decomposition
Under normal conditions of storage and use the manufacturer reports that hazardous decomposition products should not be produced. Hazardous combustion gases or vapours may be generated in a fire.
Disposal
Consult applicable national and local regulations before disposal; the manufacturer recommends incineration for waste ink. Empty containers may still present a chemical hazard.
Transport
Not regulated as dangerous goods for transport by sea (IMDG), air (IATA) or road (ADR).
4. White ink
Prepared from: Manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, 16 sections, prepared to Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 (CLP) format; edition 17 September 2026; technical source 5 January 2026, version 2.0.0.1.
- Form
- Water-based pigment ink; liquid; weak odour
- Classification of the input
- Not classified as hazardous under GHS / CLP. No hazard pictogram, no signal word, no hazard statement.
- Physical state
- Liquid
- Odour
- Weak
- pH
- 7 to 10
- Flammability
- Not flammable; not explosive; not oxidising
- Viscosity
- 3.0 to 5.0 cP
- Toxicological endpoints
- Skin corrosion/irritation, serious eye damage/irritation, skin sensitisation, respiratory sensitisation, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity (single and repeated) and aspiration hazard: classification criteria not met on available data.
- Chemical inventories
- Reported components listed on TSCA (United States), DSL (Canada), EINECS (EU) and the Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Australian, New Zealand and Philippine inventories.
| Component | CAS | Share | Role | In the finished transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 7732-18-5 | 66 % | Carrier | Driven off during drying and curing |
| Diethylene glycol | 111-46-6 | 14 % | Humectant | Driven off during drying and curing |
| Titanium dioxide | 13463-67-7 | 8 % | White pigment — the opaque underbase | Remains in the finished transfer |
| Polyurethane dispersion | 51852-81-4 | 6 % | Binder | Remains in the finished transfer |
| Glycerol | 56-81-5 | 6 % | Humectant | Driven off during drying and curing |
Shares are the manufacturer's reported weight percentages. Humectants are driven off during drying and curing; trace residues are possible.
Handling the raw material
- Handle in a well-ventilated area and avoid contact with the eyes.
- In general situations the manufacturer reports that eye, hand, respiratory and skin protection are not needed; our print operators wear safety glasses and gloves as a matter of practice.
- Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames and hot surfaces; store closed, cool and dry, away from strong oxidisers, strong acids and strong bases.
First aid (raw material)
- Eyes
- Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Consult a physician if discomfort occurs.
- Skin
- The manufacturer reports no harm in general situations and that first aid is not needed. Wash with soap and water.
- Inhalation
- Move to fresh air. If breathing is difficult, consult a physician.
- Swallowed
- Do not induce vomiting. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Call a physician or poison control centre.
Fire
Not flammable. Not considered a significant fire risk, although containers may burn. Suitable extinguishing media: water spray or fog, alcohol-resistant foam, dry powder, carbon dioxide or sand. Do not use a direct water jet.
Heating, burning and decomposition
Under normal conditions of storage and use the manufacturer reports that hazardous decomposition products should not be produced. Hazardous combustion gases or vapours may be generated in a fire.
Disposal
Consult applicable national and local regulations before disposal; the manufacturer recommends incineration for waste ink. Empty containers may still present a chemical hazard.
Transport
Not regulated as dangerous goods for transport by sea (IMDG), air (IATA) or road (ADR).
5. Expanded-gamut ink (orange, green, red, blue, violet)
Prepared from: Manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, 16 sections, prepared to Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 (CLP) format; edition 17 September 2026; technical source 5 January 2026, version 2.0.0.1.
- Form
- Water-based pigment ink; liquid; weak odour
- Classification of the input
- Not classified as hazardous under GHS / CLP. No hazard pictogram, no signal word, no hazard statement.
- Physical state
- Liquid
- Odour
- Weak
- pH
- 7 to 10
- Flammability
- Not flammable; not explosive; not oxidising
- Viscosity
- 3.0 to 5.0 cP
- Toxicological endpoints
- Skin corrosion/irritation, serious eye damage/irritation, skin sensitisation, respiratory sensitisation, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity (single and repeated) and aspiration hazard: classification criteria not met on available data.
- Chemical inventories
- Reported components listed on TSCA (United States), DSL (Canada), EINECS (EU) and the Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Australian, New Zealand and Philippine inventories.
| Component | CAS | Share | Role | In the finished transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 7732-18-5 | 80 % | Carrier | Driven off during drying and curing |
| Glycerol | 56-81-5 | 15 % | Humectant | Driven off during drying and curing |
| Pigment Orange 34 — orange | 12236-62-3 | 5 % | Colourant | Remains in the finished transfer |
| Pigment Green 7 (chlorinated copper phthalocyanine) — green | 1328-53-6 | 5 % | Colourant | Remains in the finished transfer |
| Pigment Red 254 (diketopyrrolopyrrole) — red | 84632-65-5 | 5 % | Colourant | Remains in the finished transfer |
| Pigment Blue 60 (indanthrone) — blue | 81-77-6 | 5 % | Colourant | Remains in the finished transfer |
| Pigment Violet 23 (dioxazine) — violet | 6358-30-1 | 5 % | Colourant | Remains in the finished transfer |
Shares are the manufacturer's reported weight percentages. Humectants are driven off during drying and curing; trace residues are possible.
Handling the raw material
- Handle in a well-ventilated area and avoid contact with the eyes.
- In general situations the manufacturer reports that eye, hand, respiratory and skin protection are not needed; our print operators wear safety glasses and gloves as a matter of practice.
- Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames and hot surfaces; store closed, cool and dry, away from strong oxidisers, strong acids and strong bases.
First aid (raw material)
- Eyes
- Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Consult a physician if discomfort occurs.
- Skin
- The manufacturer reports no harm in general situations and that first aid is not needed. Wash with soap and water.
- Inhalation
- Move to fresh air. If breathing is difficult, consult a physician.
- Swallowed
- Do not induce vomiting. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Call a physician or poison control centre.
Fire
Not flammable. Not considered a significant fire risk, although containers may burn. Suitable extinguishing media: water spray or fog, alcohol-resistant foam, dry powder, carbon dioxide or sand. Do not use a direct water jet.
Heating, burning and decomposition
Under normal conditions of storage and use the manufacturer reports that hazardous decomposition products should not be produced. Hazardous combustion gases or vapours may be generated in a fire.
Disposal
Consult applicable national and local regulations before disposal; the manufacturer recommends incineration for waste ink. Empty containers may still present a chemical hazard.
Transport
Not regulated as dangerous goods for transport by sea (IMDG), air (IATA) or road (ADR).
6. Hot-melt adhesive powder (thermoplastic polyurethane)
Prepared from: Manufacturer product safety information (one page) and technical data sheet; edition 17 September 2026; safety information prepared 18 August 2019.
- Form
- White powder; fully reacted thermoplastic aromatic polyurethane; insoluble in water
- Classification of the input
- The manufacturer's product safety information carries no GHS hazard classification, pictogram or signal word. Its guidance is to avoid breathing the dust and to use ventilation and protective equipment when handling the loose powder.
- Melting range (DSC)
- 105 to 118 °C (221 to 244 °F)
- Hardness
- Shore A 75
- Melt flow rate
- 28 g / 10 min
- Wash resistance
- Up to 60 °C (140 °F)
- Particle size grades
- 0 to 50 µm and 80 to 200 µm
- Water solubility
- Insoluble
- Ignition
- May burn but does not ignite readily
| Component | CAS | Share | Role | In the finished transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), fully reacted | — | 100 % (as supplied) | Hot-melt adhesive — melts at the press and bonds the printed film to the fabric | Remains in the finished transfer |
Shares are the manufacturer's reported weight percentages. Humectants are driven off during drying and curing; trace residues are possible.
Handling the raw material
- Avoid breathing dust. The loose powder is a workplace material in our production area — the customer never receives it loose.
- Use adequate ventilation and local exhaust; wear protective eyewear, gloves and work clothing when handling the powder; use an approved respirator if exposure limits are exceeded or symptoms occur.
- Keep containers closed; protect from freezing, extreme heat and direct sunlight; keep away from strong acids, strong bases and oxidising agents.
First aid (raw material)
- Inhalation
- Move to fresh air and keep at rest if breathing is difficult. If breathing stops, call emergency services and give rescue breathing if trained.
- Skin
- Wash with soap and water. Remove contaminated clothing. Seek medical advice if irritation occurs.
- Eyes
- Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if easy to do and continue rinsing. Seek medical advice if irritation persists.
- Swallowed
- Rinse mouth. Do not induce vomiting unless directed by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If a large quantity is swallowed, call a physician immediately.
Fire
May burn but does not ignite readily. Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray or foam for small fires; water spray, fog or foam for large fires. Do not use a high-volume water jet.
Heating, burning and decomposition
Combustion may produce carbon oxides and nitrogen oxides. Firefighters should wear positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus.
Disposal
Dispose of powder and packaging through an approved waste-disposal facility in accordance with applicable regulations. Avoid release to the environment.
7. Carrier film (coated polyethylene terephthalate)
Prepared from: Manufacturer product safety information (one page); edition 17 September 2026; based on product information revised 14 November 2025.
- Form
- Coated PET film; translucent white
- Classification of the input
- The manufacturer's product safety information carries no GHS hazard classification, pictogram or signal word. A manufactured article: it is peeled off after pressing and is not part of the finished garment.
- Physical form
- Film on a roll; translucent white
- Storage
- 10 to 35 °C (50 to 95 °F), relative humidity below 50 %, away from fire and heat
- Ignition
- The film can burn
| Component | CAS | Share | Role | In the finished transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | — | 95.1 % | Base film | Peeled off with the carrier film |
| Polyurethane resin | — | 1.8 % | Coating | Peeled off with the carrier film |
| Polyvinyl alcohol | — | 1.8 % | Coating — the release layer the print sits on | Peeled off with the carrier film |
| Resin | — | 0.9 % | Coating | Peeled off with the carrier film |
| Silicon dioxide | — | 0.4 % | Coating — anti-block / slip | Peeled off with the carrier film |
Shares are the manufacturer's reported weight percentages. Humectants are driven off during drying and curing; trace residues are possible.
Handling the raw material
- Use adequate ventilation. Our operators wear safety glasses, gloves and work clothing when handling rolls.
- Secure rolls during transport; protect from damage, direct sunlight and rain.
First aid (raw material)
- Skin
- Wash with soap and water.
- Inhalation
- If vapours from heated film are inhaled, move to fresh air.
- Swallowed
- Seek medical advice or attention. Do not induce vomiting unless directed by medical personnel.
Fire
The film can burn. Suitable extinguishing media: water spray or fog, carbon dioxide, dry powder or sand.
Heating, burning and decomposition
Heating or burning may release decomposition gases including acetaldehyde, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
Disposal
Collect waste film for recycling where accepted, or dispose of it through an appropriate waste-handling service. Peeled carriers are ordinary PET waste.
8. Regulatory notes
8.1 Pigments with a listing
Titanium dioxide
CAS 13463-67-7 · used in: White ink
- IARC
- Group 2B — possibly carcinogenic to humans, by inhalation of the respirable powder (source: manufacturer SDS)
- Proposition 65
- Listed, as "titanium dioxide (airborne, unbound particles of respirable size)"
The listing describes breathing loose, respirable powder. In the ink the pigment is dispersed in liquid; in a cured transfer it is bound inside a polyurethane film. California's OEHHA, which keeps the list, wrote in its 2024 rulemaking that titanium dioxide bound within a product matrix such as rubber, ink or paint is not included in the listing. Sanding, grinding or burning a transfer is the only way to free the particles, and we advise against all three.
Carbon black (Pigment Black 7)
CAS 1333-86-4 · used in: Black ink
- IARC
- Group 2B — possibly carcinogenic to humans, by inhalation of the respirable powder (source: IARC Monographs)
- Proposition 65
- Listed, as "carbon black (airborne, unbound particles of respirable size)"
The manufacturer's data sheet does not carry this classification in its carcinogenicity table; we add it from the IARC Monographs because a reader checking the CAS number will find it. The same reasoning applies: bound in a liquid dispersion and then in a cured film, it is not the airborne powder the listing describes.
8.2 Other components
Diethylene glycol, glycerol, the polyurethane dispersion, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl alcohol and the thermoplastic polyurethane adhesive are not on the California Proposition 65 list. Proposition 65 is a warning statute; no product is "compliant" with it, and whether a warning is required on a finished product sold in California is a determination for whoever sells that product. We have not commissioned Proposition 65 exposure assessments or analytical testing of a finished transfer.
8.3 Chemical inventories and transport
The reported ink components are listed on the United States TSCA inventory and the other national inventories named in the ink sections above. The inks are not regulated as dangerous goods for transport by sea, air or road. Finished transfers ship as ordinary goods.
8.4 Children's products
Testing, certification and tracking-label obligations for a children's product rest with the manufacturer or importer of the finished product. ProTransfers does not certify transfers as children's products. The children's products page sets out the responsibilities and what this document can and cannot be used for under the component-part rule, 16 CFR part 1109.
8.5 Testing of the finished transfer
None commissioned to date. Every statement in this document describes the inputs as their manufacturers report them.
9. Manufacturer documents and referral
10. Document control
This summary was prepared by ProTransfers from the manufacturer documents whose editions and technical-source dates are given at the head of each material section. It is reviewed against those documents when they change and at least once a year; the review date is at the foot of this page. It replaces no manufacturer document and is not a Safety Data Sheet.