What they are made of:
Materials for thermal printers can be made of vinyl, polyester, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), magnetic, polycarbonates or other variations of plastics.
The type of adhesive used (if any):
Adhesives are a vital component to applications. Adhesives can come in the form of pressure-sensitive, heat activated, solvent based or water based.
Pressure sensitive vinyl adhesives can be further broken down to:
- Permanent
- Removable
- Semi-removable (Permanent removable or requires setting time)
- Low Tack or Repositionable
Adhesives are further segmented by what materials they can adhere to. Some adhesives can stick to metal, plastics, wood or other materials.
Coatings & colorings
Materials can be coated for different printing technologies such as inkjet or thermal printing. These can be either in matte or gloss depending on the application need.
Materials can be colored to a wide variety of shades and tones for printing or cutting.
Durability
Materials are usually rated by how many years they will last in a particular environment. This can be affected by UV light or other elements such as service temperature. And the resistance to cleaning agents or other chemical can play a roll. Using the right materials for the application is one of the keys to capturing return business.
Thickness
Thickness is commonly measured in the United States as a "mil." One mil equals 1/1000th of an inch. Depending on the kind of material used, there will be a variation in thickness. Thicker doesn't necessarily mean it is more durable, but depending on the market, certain characteristics have more "curb appeal."
