The Science of Brother PTouch Labeling Tape Lamination

Lamination

Brother’s P-Touch TZ and TZE tapes have a unique lamination to make labels heat, cold, water, chemical and fade resistant. The labels are extremely durable, have a professional finish and will last in a variety of industrial environments.

The laminated tape structure consists of six layers of material that are surprisingly thin, yet strong. P-touch labellers uniquely print on the underside of the laminate, sandwiching text between two layers of film and making the characters virtually indestructible.

Abrasion Resistance

After 50 round-trip passes with a 1kg weighted sand eraser, Brother laminated tapes came up only slightly scratched, with the characters underneath completely unaffected.

Chemicals and Water Resistance

After being bathed in a variety of materials for two hours, Brother laminated tapes still managed to remain affixed to their surfaces with little damage. Even chemical spills, if wiped up quickly, result in minimal damage.

Temperature Resistance

Brother’s P-touch tapes retain their integrity even at extremely high temperatures. When tested, tapes began to decompose only once the temperature reached 365°C. In adhesion tests conducted at cold temperatures, the tapes did not experience any adhesive strength problems or changes to the ink or tape, even at -50°C.

Fade Resistance

In tests performed to simulate a year of outdoor conditions, ink remained unchanged and all characters were completely legible. Brother laminated tapes were attached to coated metal plates and placed in a fade-inducing chamber at 83°C for 100 hours to simulate a year in a sunny environment. Then they were placed in a chamber at 63°C for 400 hours to simulate a year in heat and light, as well as water. Only yellow tapes showed significant signs of fading, while other tapes showed little sign of fading that was visible to the eye. This fade resistance reduces the need to reproduce labels regularly and is convenient for environments where legibility over time is important.

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