Three things to note about in-mold stickers

【Thermal transfer analysis】Three things to note about in-mold stickers
1-Dust
In-mold stickers are a type of thermal transfer technology. The raw materials, processes, and application methods used are quite different from ordinary thermal transfer processes. What should be paid attention to in-mold stickers during production and processing? The following is a brief introduction for you.

Dust is a tiny particle suspended in the air. It is very floating and easily adheres to the surface of objects. The number one public enemy of thermal transfer in-mold stickers is dust. Once the surface of the in-mold sticker is covered with dust, the printed pattern will be incomplete, and it is easy to have broken points, dirt, etc.

2-Oil stains
Oil stains are a phenomenon caused by the accumulation of oil stains. There are three reasons why the thermal transfer in-mold sticker has oil stains:

1. The in-mold sticker accidentally gets oil stains from the rotating machine during the slitting process;

2. There are oil stains near the storage location that accidentally get on the surface of the in-mold sticker;

3. The surface of the substrate is not cleaned and there are oil stains. If the workshop staff does not notice this, there will be a stain on the surface of the product after injection molding.

Whether in production or processing practice, operators must be cautious and carefully check every link (slitting, storage, processing), and then pick out the flower film and product with oil stains and wipe them clean with cloth. If it cannot be wiped clean, it is recommended to treat it as waste.

3-Increase static electricity
Although there are always many factors to consider when printing in-mold labels, one of the most important considerations is how to put the in-mold sticker in the injection mold just right. To solve this problem, static electricity is the best choice. Using static electricity in the in-mold labeling process has advantages in terms of cost and reliability because it no longer requires a vacuum in the mold.

When static electricity is added to a label with suitable material and structure, the label will be attracted to the grounded metal surface of the mold by static electricity and will be stuck for a few minutes due to its significant adhesion. These few minutes are very critical and often determine whether the in-mold label can be perfectly integrated with the product. If there is not enough static electricity on the in-mold label, it is difficult to print the pattern on the designated position of the product.

Therefore, before injection molding, manufacturers must first understand with the in-mold label manufacturer whether there is static electricity in their process.