This is a transparent over-laminate which is a high quality thermoplastic sheet composed of high quality PET or vinyl. It employs pressure-sensitive adhesive and not heat-based resins. The film is attached to the printed substrate entirely by mechanical force, and no destructive heat is required. I panic when sensitive thermal transfer inks or sizeable B2B logistics information is not safeguarded and subjected to rough industrial environment.
This is why it is important to protect our VIZLENT eggshell sticker paper and polyimide face stocks using a frictionless and room temperature polymer. The crystal-clear barrier is healed immediately without melting the pigments, and it is one of the wonders of the modern adhesive technology, which I have never ceased to wonder at.
What do you use cold laminating for?
I use this pressure sensitive material when I am using either heat sensitive ink or fragile synthetic substrates. Heating a heat-sensitive label with high heat usually results in a disaster. Cold lamination provides you with a shield which defends against the extreme UV rays, chemicals and scratches which are abrasive. It is the most suitable choice of outdoor signs and industrial stickers that have to endure rough conditions without bending or melting.
The addition of this clear shield provides the surface with additional rigidity and a high quality touch that I prefer. The appearance is enhanced whether I have a matte finish or a high-gloss shine. I also apply it in graphics on floors which have to be slip-resistant. Having tried numerous materials, I can say that cold lamination preserves colors bright and vivid even when the material is subjected to intense foot traffic or is in extreme conditions. In brief, it secures your work as an insurance policy.
Can I use cold laminating film without a machine?
It is exciting and worrying to think of the numerous applications of room-temperature encapsulation. Cold laminating keeps sensitive inks that are heat sensitive and other important logistics information. I feel sad when I watch the costly thermal transfer labels wear out in the presence of harsh solvents or abrasive conditions and a mere overlay of viscoelastic would have done the trick. When using our high quality VIZLENT PET and vinyl films on delicate materials, like eggshell sticker paper or polyimide face stocks, all one needs to do is provide mechanical pressure to bond the adhesive.
Our non-adhesive process to save bright UV graphics and delicate barcode ribbons, which would otherwise be melted in a thermal press, is called frictionless. It makes me feel proud of my profession when I realize that this kind of heat-free barrier waterproofs and protects the commercial assets.
What’s the difference between hot laminating and cold laminating?
There is a basic difference between hot and cold laminating. Hot lamination consists of high heat that melts the resin which then infiltrates the substrate creating a hard bond. I worry when the heat-sensitive labels or PET face stocks distort because of the heat. Cold laminating, however, uses a visco-elastic pressure-sensitive adhesive, which is bonded by mechanical pressure.
An eggshell sticker paper or volatile ink that is selected with cold-roll films maintains fine graphics that would otherwise be melted with a thermal press. The adhesive does not require any degradation as it provides a high level of protection without causing damage in any case and is frictionless at room temperature. It is a soft science-based substitute of the severe heat-setting.
Can I print on laminating film?
Direct printing on the non-porous surface of a cold laminating film does not work very well. Ink does not dry very well and beads on the slick surface of the film. These are not ink recipients, but a protective layer and as such, the standard inkjet or thermal transfer ribbons will not work.
In certain exceptional situations, UV -curable inks can permeate, but this is dangerous and costly. It is more appropriate to print on the bottom material, e.g. BOPP or vinyl, and apply the laminate on the bottom to preserve the design and the protection. One should not print on the protective layer.
when to use hot or cold laminating?
The decision of using hot or cold laminating will be based on the material. Hot lamination suits strong, porous materials that would not be affected by high temperatures. The resin is melted by the heat creating a strong bond.
But such temperatures destroy heat sensitive prints. Cold laminating, with a visco-elastic pressure sensitive bond, is the solution in such instances. It maintains sensitive PET, vinyl and eggshell sticker paper without any risk of degradation. Knowledge of this difference between beginners and the real industrial knowledge.
