Labeling foil
When marking film is called special plastic films used for further processing in cutting plotters designed or in many cases in digital or offset printing can be printed.
Areas of application
Labeling foils are offered in many different designs. The main areas of application are in the field of advertising , especially in outdoor advertising . Here the labeling film is used for the lettering of vehicles, shop windows, advertising signs, advertising tarpaulins, templates, privacy screens and, more recently, also for bonding to house facades (here as a printed film).
In addition to advertising, labeling films are also used to create vehicle decors and full vehicle wraps. Full vehicle wraps are very popular with taxi companies. In some federal states, the color light ivory is still required for taxis. However, it is difficult to sell used vehicles in this color. Therefore, many entrepreneurs are starting to order their vehicles in a more popular color and then having them repainted with a full wrap in light ivory. The film can be removed without leaving any residue when the vehicle is later sold. A side effect here is that the vehicle paint is protected and is not exposed to any changes in aging due to mechanical influences or UV radiation. Even after a few years, the paint looks almost like new.
materials
Labeling foils are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), more rarely of polyester (PET), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), the latter two of which have a rigid structure. A special adhesive layer is applied to the back of the film, which, depending on the intended use, can have very different structures (adhesive strength / composition). With a few exceptions, the thickness of labeling foils is around 50 to 90 µm. The number of available colors is in the three-digit range for many types of film and manufacturers, from a certain purchase quantity many manufacturers produce films in any desired color according to RAL or in the Pantone Matching System.
production method
A distinction is mainly made between calendered and cast films. Either a monomeric or a polymeric plasticizer is added to calendered films , the proportion of which is around 20 to 25 percent.
- Monomer calendered films are intended for short-term use. The monomeric plasticizer evaporates very quickly, especially when exposed to heat. This leads to material shrinkage, which can be accompanied by cracks in the film itself. Calendered films are inexpensive, but their use is limited to up to three years, depending on the manufacturer.
- Polymer calendered films are designed for medium-term use. The plasticizer does not evaporate as much and the film remains pliable longer. The service life is up to seven years.
Since calendered films have a kind of “ memory effect ” and return to their original shape, they are mainly suitable for use on smooth and flat surfaces.
- Cast films are designed for long-term use of up to ten years. With suitable processing, they show hardly any measurable shrinkage phenomena ("memory effect") and are therefore suitable for 3D bonding.
What all foils have in common is that the manufacturers state that the use of the foil colors white, black and transparent is on average two years longer. In the case of metallic colors, the application time is often set shorter.
Foil types
- Tarpaulin foils are specially designed for the lettering of truck tarpaulins and advertising tarpaulins. When touching the adhesive surface, one feels little or no adhesive force. This only develops when the adhesive layer reacts with the plasticizers in the tarpaulin.
- Translucent films are translucent to a certain extent and are used e.g. B. used for the labeling of illuminated advertising systems or for the large-scale labeling of shop windows.
- Perforated foils are foils that are designed for full-surface wrapping of car windows. They are black on the adhesive side (inside), white on the outside and have perforations over the entire surface of the film. They are printed and allow an almost unrestricted view from the vehicle interior to the outside. A protective laminate should be applied after printing, otherwise dirt can collect in the holes and make it difficult to see through.
- Diffusion foils scatter the light and are suitable for use in light boxes. Due to the scattering of the light, it is distributed more homogeneously when viewed from the outside.
- Blockout film is also intended for light boxes and is absolutely opaque. A blockout film can be used to cover parts of the light box that should not be visible in the dark when the lighting is switched on.
- Retroreflective sheeting, like traffic signs , reflects incident light. Use in the area of road traffic regulations is subject to statutory provisions. In certain cases, in addition to the actual advertising lettering, a likewise retroreflective film must be attached to the vehicle contours.
- Adhesive film is a film without an adhesive coating. It sticks to smooth surfaces, can be removed and reused. An application example are z. B. Car dealerships that want to apply equipment features of vehicles on the windows of the vehicles.
- Façade foil is a relatively new type of labeling foil. It adheres to plaster or concrete walls and is printed with the desired advertising motif beforehand. The duration of use should not exceed a few months.
- Glass etching film, also called frosted glass, is a film that has a "satiny or whitish frosted glass effect". It is often used as a privacy screen and is available from various manufacturers with special effects and falls under the category of translucent adhesive films.
- A special type of labeling film is the magnetic film. This has a thickness of 0.6 to 0.9 mm and can be printed as well as pasted with plotted adhesive films. It has the advantage of being able to be used on multiple carriers, e.g. B. vehicles, and can be removed when not required. One disadvantage is the high level of maintenance required, especially with regard to cleaning and storage. Improper use can damage the support surface.
Manufacturer
There are numerous manufacturers of labeling foils. The best known include 3M , MACtac, Orafol , APA, Intercoat and Avery Dennison