High-temperature labels, also called heat-resistant or heatproof labels, withstand the hottest of environments and meet industry expectations of a label maintaining its detail when exposed to high levels of heat.
Heat-resistant labels for candles are popular, but there are also higher-level, more technical labels for UV resistance and extreme conditions.
Below, we’ll discuss where and when to use high-temperature labels, as well as their properties.
Types of High-Temperature Labels
Different labels can have completely different interactions with heat – they’re not all made the same. Some may specialise in handling extremely high temperatures for a short amount of time, while others can operate at a moderately high temperature for a long time.
Overall, the following materials are some of the most popular temperature-resistant labels:
- PET and Polyester Labels – Hand-applied and printed with a standard thermal transfer They can withstand modest temperatures from -40 to 150°C.
- Metal – Metal labels and tags can be used as high-temperature labels. By moving from aluminium to stainless steel, metal tags can be used for some high-temperature applications.
- Polyimide – A mid-point, catch-all label type. These will withstand temperatures up to 200°C for 60 minutes. Alternatively, they can adapt to 300°C for 5 minutes.
- HP-T40 – These labels are nailed or clipped onto appropriate subjects. They can resist temperatures up to 450°C.
- CBR-CX2T – Can maintain temperatures between 20°C and 1250°C. They require a special applicator to apply and are typically reserved for niche cases.
- Ceramic – These labels are toughies, resisting temperatures up to 1250°C. Made of complex ceramic material and thermal ink, they are usually applied to metals and glass.
At Label Source, we only stock polyimide-based labels as they offer a strong middle ground. Other, higher-level labels are reserved for specialist outlets.
Where and When to Use Them
Heat-resistant labels sound like they’re reserved for the factories and engineers out there, but there’s probably one sitting in your home right now.
Candles are the most popular household item to have heat-proof labels. For household candles to sell, they need to maintain their intricately-designed labels under the heat of a flame. Nobody wants their candle label to slowly melt away, plus safety would be compromised.
For industrial uses, heat-resistant labels are typically used for electrical component identification, PCB identification, PCB applications, marking switches or sensors, high-temperature manufacturing lines, infrared ovens, soldering baths, etc.
Whenever there is a need to preserve information during or following heat, then heat-resistant labels are needed.
Handle the Heat with High-Temperature Labels
Our range of custom heat-resistant labels are printed on self-adhesive white polyimide with durable, high-quality resin-grade black thermal print.
This means you’ll be getting a versatile label that can not only handle the heat but can resist UV light, chemicals and solvents too. Check them out!
