Guide to Heat-Resistant Labels and Printers: PET, Aluminum Foil, Polyimide for Extreme Environments

Heat resistant labels are necessary in industries where machinery, equipment, and products face high temperatures. They stay durable and readable even at 150 or 300 degrees Celsius. Beyond industrial uses, these labels are essential in the food industry, especially for the booming pre-packaged foods, ensuring product info stays clear after heating.

This post will introduce the applications of heat resistant labels, the label materials, and the types of label printers suitable for creating these durable labels.

Applications of Heat Resistant Labels

Below are typical applications of heat proof labels across various industries.

● Automotive Industry: Marking engine components, exhaust systems, and other components that are exposed to high temperatures.

● Aerospace: Labeling aircraft and spacecraft components that experience extreme temperatures during operation.

● Electronics: Used for heat resistant labels on heating electronic components to ensure label integrity and readability.

● Medical Devices: Used for labeling medical equipment that undergoes sterilization processes involving high temperatures.

● Chemical Industry: Suitable for labeling containers and equipment that store or process chemicals at high temperatures.

● Manufacturing: Used in various manufacturing processes where materials and products are exposed to high heat.

● Power Generation: Used for labeling components in power plants, including turbines and boilers, which operate at high temperatures.

● Laboratory Environments: Used for marking tubes, vials, and containers holding samples undergoing high-temperature treatments like autoclaving, sterilization, or incubation.

● Food and Beverage: Ideal for labeling various pre-cooked and canned foods, especially ready-to-eat meals, frozen foods, and instant rice that are heated by microwaving or water baths. These labels remain intact and do not blur due to moisture during the high-temperature process.

Materials for Heat Resistant Labels

Heat resistant labels are made from materials designed to withstand extreme temperatures and harsh conditions.

To keep them securely in place, it's important to pair them with high-quality adhesives that won't let them warp or peel off when things heat up.

Depending on the application, such as biochemical experiments or food heating, the labels may also need to be water-resistant and solvent-resistant. Therefore, the selection of label materials involves considering multiple factors.

Common heat resistant label materials include:

1. Polyester (PET)

PET is a popular choice for heat resistant label material, especially silver PET labels, because it's tough and versatile.

These labels can handle temperatures up to 150 degrees Celsius and are water-resistant, UV-resistant, and flexible. They work well on various surfaces, including curved or irregular ones.

Heat and chemical resistant labels made from PET are also great at standing up to oils, solvents, and cleaners, plus they're super strong, so they won't tear or wear easily.

PET labels can even be transparent, which is ideal if you need the product's appearance to shine through. Thanks to these qualities, PET labels are widely used across various industries, from warehousing and product labels to asset tags and brand logo stickers.

2. Aluminum Foil

While PET labels can withstand temperatures up to approximately 150 to 200 degrees Celsius, aluminum foil labels can endure much higher temperatures, often up to 300 degrees Celsius or more. This makes aluminum foil labels particularly suitable for applications requiring extreme heat resistance.

Furthermore, heat resistant foil labels are highly durable, offering resistance to abrasion, moisture, and chemicals. The metallic surface of the labels provides a reflective quality, enhancing visibility and readability, as well as adding a premium feel.

However, aluminum foil labels have less flexibility than PET labels, limiting their application on curved or irregular surfaces. Currently, aluminum foil labels are primarily used in the automotive, electronics, and other manufacturing industries.

3. Polyimide

When you need the ultimate in heat resistance, polyimide labels are the way to go.

They can withstand extreme temperatures, up to 500 degrees Celsius, and offer excellent resistance to chemicals, including solvents and acids.

Polyimide's natural flame retardant properties make it a safer choice in high-temperature environments, and it also provides good electrical insulation.

These qualities enable heat resistant labels made from polyimide to be widely used in demanding industries like aerospace, automotive, and electronics, where they're perfect for labeling things like engine parts or circuit boards.

Heat Resistant Label Printer Types

For printing these heat resistant labels, color printing is typically done using laser or inkjet printers, while monochrome printing of product barcodes, nameplates, and the like is done using thermal transfer label printers.

In industrial settings, thermal transfer printing technology is often employed to print these heat and chemical resistant labels for equipment and product identification. The printed content typically includes product names, specifications, manufacturer information, serial numbers, and barcodes.

Thermal transfer label printers can be easily integrated into factory and workshop ERP systems, allowing for variable content printing and the production of unique ID labels and barcodes for each product.

They are highly compatible and can print on paper, plastic films like PET, PVC, PI, and aluminum foil labels. With the right ribbon consumables, these label printers can easily switch between different materials, offering great practicality and convenience.

HPRT provides high-quality desktop and industrial thermal transfer printers as well as ribbon consumables.

These products support printing at different speeds and resolutions and come equipped with USB, USB HOST, serial port, Ethernet, and optional Bluetooth and Wi-Fi interfaces, ensuring strong system integration. We also offer a wide range of optional accessories to further meet our customers' diverse needs.

For purchasing heat resistant label printers and ribbon consumables, feel free to contact us. We will recommend the most suitable printer products based on your specific application requirements, printing materials, and system integration needs, helping you efficiently create clear, professional, and compliant heat resistant labels.