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 from of pressure-sensitive, water soluble or even non-adhesive static cling.
Pressure sensitive vinyl adhesives can be further broken down to:
- Permanent
- Removable
- Semi-removable (Permanent removable or requires setting time)
- Low Tack or Repositionable
- Static Cling
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 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. This can be affected by the elements and chemical resistance of the material. Outdoor materials can also have UV resistance to sunlight. Using the right materials for the application is the way to keep jobs profitable.
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 better; but it usually does cost more.
How you are going to use the material is the best judge on whatever thickness you'll need. We can certainly assist you with these decisions... Call us at 1-800-232-8018.
