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Maintenance
Label Kit
| Printer Brochure | Label FAQ |
Label Order Form
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| Label Tape Structure |
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The laminated tapes consist of six layers of materials, resulting
in thin, yet extremely strong, labels. Characters formed with thermal transfer ink
are actually printed onto the underside of a laminate. Sandwiched between two layers
of PET (polyethylene) film, the printed characters (and bar codes) are virtually
indestructible.
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| Cut to Size |
The built-in cutter mechanism allows the labels to be cut to size. The printer
then automatically ejects the labels.
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| Lamination |
The top lamination layer protects the ink from the sort of hazards which
abound in industrial environments: abrasion, chemicals, oil and water.
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| Abrasion Resistance |
Tapes were tested with a weighted (1kg) sand eraser device. After 50 "return"
passes, the lamination was only slightly scratched. The characters underneath were
completely unaffected.
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Dielectric Strength |
In electrical tests, white tapes with black characters began to lose their
electric resistance at an applied voltage of 8kv, and lost their resistance entirely
at 11kv. Most other color variations will have a similar resistance.However, the
tapes are not designed to be used as electrical insulation and it is recommended
that they not be used as such. It is important to note that tapes with metallic
(gold, silver) backgrounds or characters contain aluminum and that tapes with black
backgrounds contain carbon and therefore have lower dielectric strength than the
standard color styles.
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| Heat Resistance |
The tapes retain their integrity even at extremely high temperatures. Tapes
were placed in an analysis chamber. Then, starting at room temperature, the chamber
was heated at a rate of 20 degrees increase per minute. Decomposition of the tapes did not begin until the temperature reached 365
degrees. In other words, under general working environments, the tapes will retain
their form and readability. Tapes began to decompose more rapidly before and after
temperature reached 415.5 degrees.
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ADHESIVE STRENGTH
(gf/12mm)
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Stainless steel
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780 |
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Glass
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730 |
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PVC
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880
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Acrylic
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700
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Polypropylene
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340
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Polyester-coated wood
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650
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ADHESIVE STRENGTH (gf/12mm); required force to remove 12mm wide tapes
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ADHESIVE STRENGTH
(gf/12mm)
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40 degree distilled water x24 hours
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1440
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40 degree 5% salt water x 24 hours
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1560
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Objects: Stainless steel rubbed with abrasive paper #280
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Adhesive Strength
The tape's adhesive strength has been tested under ordinary conditions when applied
to various materials. Though the exact forces required to remove the labels varied,
the finding was that in a general working environment, even after handling, the
tapes will remain affixed.
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Adhesion after Exposure to Heat and Cold
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Tapes attached to stainless steel slightly roughened with abrasive paper
were heated and cooled. After two hours in (-50) degrees, a force of 710gf was required
to remove the tape. No change in tape or adhesive color had occurred.
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Heating, on the other hand, actually increased the tapes' adhesive strength, due
to slight softening and spreading of adhesive. (After two hours in +200 degrees
though, the tape's white backing and adhesive had slightly discolored.
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ADHESIVE STRENGTH
(gf/12mm)
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-50 degrees x 2 hours
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710
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+200 degrees x 2 hours
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1100
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Adhesion in High Temperature and High Humidity |
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The combination of high temperature and high humidity was no problem for
the tapes. The highest adhesion strengths of any test were registered after the
tapes' exposure to 40 degree temperatures and 5% salt water baths. No change in
ink color occurred, and no adhesive was left behind when tapes were removed. |
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Adhesion to Rounded Objects |
Adhesion strength on rounded objects was also tested. Tapes were attached
to stainless steel poles of various diameters, prepared with #280 abrasive paper.
The poles were then placed in a variety of environments. On tightly-rounded, 8mm-diameter
poles, after 24 hours in 65degrees and 80% humidity, some label ends pulled up slightly
from the pole (up to 3mm), and in a few cases, the background tape remained attached
while the laminate pulled up (i.e. some tape separation occurred). In both normal
and cold temperatures, even on the 8mm-diameter poles, no loss of adhesion was noted.
More importantly, on all poles with larger diameters (from 12mm to 24mm), no loss
of contact between label and pole resulted.
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FINDINGS
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TOLUENE |
Slight adhesive swelling
Slight puffing of tape and laminate |
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HEXANE |
No noticeable change |
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ETHANOL |
Slight adhesive swelling
Slight puffing of tape
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ETHYL ACETATE |
Slight adhesive swelling
Slight puffing of laminate |
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ACETONE |
Slight adhesive dissolving
Slight puffing of laminate |
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1.1.1 TRICHLOETHANE |
Slight adhesive swelling
Slight puffing of laminate |
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MINERAL SPIRITS |
Slight adhesive swelling
Slight puffing of laminate |
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WATER |
No noticeable change in structure
Very slight weakening of adhesive |
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0.1N HCL:
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No noticeable change in structure
Very slight weakening of adhesive |
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0.1N NaOH
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No noticeable change in structure
Very slight weakening of adhesive |
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TAPES' FADE-O-METER
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Backgrounds
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20 Hours
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50 Hours
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100 Hours
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Clear
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0.09
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0.06
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0.26
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White
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0.13
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0.11
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0.16
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Red
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0.30
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0.46
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0.74
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Blue
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0.80
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0.82
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0.52
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Yellow
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1.14
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2.32
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4.13
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Green
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0.32
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0.29
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0.29
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Gray
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0.52
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0.71
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1.09
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Black
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0.24
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0.11
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0.35
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Adhesion to Rough Surfaces |
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The last adhesion tests addressed the issue of surface roughness. Stainless
steel samples were prepared using a variety of abrasive paper weights. Roughening
the surface actually increased the tapes' adhesion strengths. |
In general, the adhesion strengths determined through the various tests demonstrate
that tapes will remain affixed under all but the most extreme environments.
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Adhesion after Exposure to Chemicals and Water
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Tapes, attached to glass, were bathed in a variety of materials for two hours.
Despite some changes in appearance and structure, all tapes remained affixed to
their slides. The tested laminated tapes fared remarkably well. |
Also, though soaking labels in chemicals for two hours caused some changes,
rubbing labels with cloths soaked in those same chemicals had no effect on the tapes.
This implies that even if chemicals are spilled on the tapes, quick wiping should
prevent damage. The laminated tape technology clearly protects the printed characters.
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Fading Resistance |
| Tapes of various background colors were attached to coated metal plates (similar
to a car's surface), and placed in a fade-inducing chamber at 83 degrees. They were
left for 100 hours to simulate a year in sunny surroundings. Afterwards, measurements
of the change in reflective strength (DE) were taken, with results as shown: |
Only yellow tape showed significant fading. The other background films, though
yielding measurable DEs, were not overly affected to the eye. Ink remained basically
unchanged, and all characters were still completely legible. |
Next, tape samples were placed in a sunshine weather-o-meter at 63 degrees
for 400 hours. They were subjected to not only heat and light, but also water, to
simulate a year of outdoor conditions. Again, yellow tapes were the most affected,
with these results: |
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ADHESIVE STRENGTH
(gf/12mm)
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SPECULAR GLOSS STAINLESS STEEL
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560
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STAINLESS STEEL RUBBED WITH A.P. #280
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780
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STAINLESS STEEL RUBBED WITH A.P. #240
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750
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STAINLESS STEEL RUBBED WITH A.P. #180
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710
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STAINLESS STEEL RUBBED WITH A.P. #120
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730
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STAINLESS STEEL RUBBED WITH A.P. #80
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660
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TAPES' FADE-O-METER
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Backgrounds
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100 Hours
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200 Hours
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300 Hours
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Clear
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1.94
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2.58
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3.76
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White
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1.13
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1.99
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3.54
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Red
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0.79
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1.58
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2.47
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Blue
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1.56
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2.08
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4.37
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Yellow
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3.02
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4.82
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6.27
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Green
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1.09
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1.52
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3.32
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Gray
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1.24
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1.54
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2.28
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Black
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0.70
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1.35
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2.58
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