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Pressure Sensitive Label Substrates
Also called stock, face stock or film, the label substrate is the material to which the adhesive layer is applied and the base upon which printing or other processes are performed to create labels. The substrate is generally the material specified by the blueprint and is often used generically in reference to the entire construction (ie: mylar labels, paper labels). The most common types of substrates are polyester, polypropylene and paper.
Polyester Label Stock
| Polyester Films |
Benefits
Excellent clarity
High durability
High tensile strength
Dimensional stability
UV & moisture resistant
Chemical solvent & oil resistant
Abrasion resistant
Stretch resistant
Heat & cold resistant
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Limitations
High cost
Poor conformability
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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a petroleum, synthetic polymer valued for its resilience and resistance to moisture and decay making it ideal for label identification. Resistant to temperatures up to 302º F.
Polyester substrates are available with void patterned adhesives in bright silver, matte silver and white for tamper-evident labeling.
Clear polyester may also be applied as an over-laminate and is often used in conjunction with polypropylene face stocks for cleanroom labeling because of their non-particulating and low-outgassing properties.
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Polypropylene Label Stock
| Polypropylene Films |
Benefits
High durability
High tensile strength
Dimensional stability
UV & moisture resistant
Acid & chemical resistant
Solvent & oil resistant
Tear resistant
Abrasion resistant
Good film flatness
Economical
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Limitations
Low heat resistance
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Highly durable and resistant to most acids, a wide variety of petroleum based chemicals and mild solvents Temperature resistant to 270º F.
A good choice for applications that require very long lasting labels. Is fairly conformable and has excellent tensile strength. Has good print quality. One of the most common film substrates.
Used in cleanroom labels; lower cost than polyester
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Vinyl (PVC) Label Stock
| Vinyl |
Benefits
Moderately economical
Scuff and tear resistant
UV and chemical resistant
High conformability
High flexibility
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Limitations
Expensive disposal
Not environmentally friendly
Minimal heat resistance
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A very versatile and durable substrate that is high in conformability, dimensional stability and resistance to solvents, moisture, scuffing and UV exposure.
Vinyl films have a high tear resistance, facilitate rich colors and perform well for printing and die cutting.
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Polylactic Acid (PLA) Label Stock
| Polylactic Acid |
Benefits
Sustainable/Compostable
Scratch Resistant
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Limitations
Minimal heat resistance
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Polylactic acid film is a corn based material that is a viable alternative to petrochemical based face stocks. Because it is compostable (ASTM 6400) and an annually renewable resource, PLA is sustainable and environmentally friendly.
PLA face stocks have great ink adhesion and are available as white or clear films.
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Polyimide (Kapton®) Label Stock
| Polyimide |
Benefits
Extreme heat resistant
Chemical resistant
Abrasion resistant
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Limitations
Expensive
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This highly specialized material is ideal for high temperature applications up to 500°F (260°C) and is particularly suited for printed circuit board (PCB) barcode labels. Polyimide survives the chemical exposure and high temperatures required for circuit board manufacturing, without shrinking or melting while maintaining a high level of legibility. Polyimide works very well with thermal transfer printing, enabling the barcode symbology to remain within ANSI barcode standards. Certainly not an economical choice, Polyimide remains the leading performer for high temperature applications to date.
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Polyacrylite Label Stock
| Polyacrylite |
Benefits
High heat resistant
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Limitations
Higher cost
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A highly durable, more economical alternative to polyimide, polyacrylite exhibits many of the characteristics of polyimide though only suitable for working temperatures up to 400ºF (204ºC).
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Polyolefin Label Stock
| Polyolefin |
Benefits
Economical
Chemical resistant
UV & moisture resistant
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Limitations
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A very strong substrate with excellent printability and exceptional chemical resistance. Polyolefin is excellent for drum label applications and is good for both indoor and outdoor use.
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Polystyrene Label Stock
| Polystyrene |
Benefits
Economical
High electrical insulation
High clarity
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Limitations
Low tear resistance
Poor solvent resistance
Poor stretch resistance
Poor heat resistance
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A thermoplastic produced by the polymerization of styrene. The electrical insulating properties are outstanding and the material is relatively unaffected by moisture.
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Paper Label Stock
| Paper |
Benefits
Economical
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Limitations
No moisture resistance
No chemical & UV resistance
No tear resistance
High particulation |
Used for low cost labeling applications such as indoor labels, point of purchase labels, package and carton labels where cleanliness is not an issue.
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