Thermal transfer ribbons may appear to be commonplace items, yet they are the engine that drives printing and labelling throughout numerous sectors. How do these consumables apply labels to circuit boards, flexible packaging, cables, and so many other products? Let’s explore the technologies behind the thermal transfer ribbons’ numerous imprinting options.
Thermotransfer Ribbons: What Are They?
Three layers make up a thermal transfer ribbon: a polyester base film, a coating made of wax, resin, or a wax-resin combination, and a silicone backcoating. They are utilised in printers that print thermal transfers and have a printhead heating element. In order to transfer ink to materials, heat from the printhead melts the ribbon coating.
Process of Basic Thermal Transfer Printing
The ribbon is positioned between the substrate and printhead during thermal transfer printing. The ribbon coating right across from the heated components melts as a result of the printhead’s localised heating.
As the liquefied coating meets the ribbon, it is imprinted or transferred onto the substrate below. Additionally, the backcoating stops the melted coating from adhering to the printhead. Variable heat application imprints text, barcodes, graphics, and more as the ribbon and material progress.
Types of Specialty Ribbons and Their Uses
Thermal transfer offers specialised formulations suited to particular purposes in addition to standard monochrome wax ribbons:
More scratch- and heat-resistant impressions for circuit boards, wire wraps, etc. are required for resin ribbons.
Ribbons made of a combination of resin and wax that balance each other out to provide flexible packaging.
Use food-safe, FDA-compliant base films and coatings to mark food packages with food grade ribbons.
Colour ribbons – Print coloured letters, logos, and designs using coloured wax and resin mixtures.
Foil ribbons – For classy decorative printing, use metal foils like silver.
Security ribbons – Include unique inks for anti-counterfeiting that are only visible under UV blacklights.
Smell ribbons: When labels are scratched, fragranced wax releases scents like strawberry or pine.
The variety of speciality ribbons broadens thermal transfer’s application range to include specialised retail and industrial applications in addition to standard document and office printing.
In summary, because they can precisely and programmably melt thin films onto flexible materials, thermal transfer ribbons provide a flexible imprinting solution. The wide range of things we use every day can be imprinted thanks to thermal transfer’s accuracy.