Thermal transfer film is a medium material for thermal transfer process, used in thermal transfer machine:
1. Structural composition:
• Base film layer: usually made of PET film, with high strength, high temperature resistance, good dimensional stability and other characteristics, providing a basic support structure for the thermal transfer film, and can maintain the shape and performance of the film stable during printing and transfer.
• Release layer: The main component is release agent, which is used to smoothly separate the other layers printed with patterns from the base film layer during thermal transfer, ensuring that the pattern can be completely transferred to the surface of the substrate, and there will be no residue after transfer.
• Ink layer: Attached to the release layer by printing, it contains adhesive resin, colorant and other ingredients. It is the key layer for presenting decorative patterns and colors, and can show a variety of exquisite patterns and rich colors.
• Protective layer: It can protect the ink layer from scratches and wear, prevent the pattern from being damaged during use, and also has certain waterproof and UV protection functions, which can keep the pattern bright and clear for a long time.
• Adhesive layer: generally composed of materials such as hot melt adhesive. During the thermal transfer process, the hot melt adhesive is melted by heating, thereby firmly bonding the ink layer and other layers to the surface of the substrate, ensuring that the pattern can be firmly attached to the substrate.
2. Production process:
Thermal transfer film is mainly printed by gravure printing machine, and its general process is as follows:
• Coating release layer: the base film passes through a coating device filled with a release agent solution, and a release layer is coated on the base film.
• Coating protective layer: a protective layer is coated on the release layer to enhance the wear resistance, light resistance and other properties of the thermal transfer film.
• Printing ink layer: after passing through the printing device, the required pattern and color are printed on the protective layer.
• Coating adhesive layer: finally, an adhesive layer is coated on the ink layer to make a thermal transfer film and roll it up.
The adhesive layer determines the properties of the thermal transfer film. Different materials require different adhesive layers. Customized thermal transfer films should provide product material information and conduct necessary tests.
3. Advantages:
• Exquisite patterns: It can print various complex, fine and colorful patterns, and the transferred patterns have high clarity, strong layering and good visual effects.
• Wide application: It is suitable for surface decoration of various materials, such as plastics, metals, ceramics, wood, glass, etc.
• High production efficiency: The thermal transfer process is relatively simple to operate, and the pattern can be quickly transferred to the substrate, which is suitable for large-scale production.
• Good environmental protection: Compared with some traditional printing methods, thermal transfer films produce fewer pollutants during production and use, and have less impact on the environment.
• Good durability: The transferred pattern has excellent properties such as wear resistance, heat resistance and light resistance, and can maintain stability for a long time.
