Consumables
Madico Launches Advanced Gloss White Polyimide Film for High Temperature Printed Circuit Board Labelling
Wednesday 26. November 2008 - Substrate delivers high performance and quality benefits at a more cost-effective price
Madico Graphic Films, a leading supplier of specialist pressure sensitive, coated film products for durable label applications, has expanded its range of innovative labelstocks with the addition of a high quality, high temperature gloss white polyimide material. The new substrate is designed to meet the increased performance requirements for thermal transfer bar code labels in printed circuit board manufacturing and offers a number of advantages over existing polyimide/Kapton variants.
Extreme high-temperature resistance
In particular, Madicos polyimide substrate withstands the extreme high temperatures involved in the component soldering aspect (bottom of board labelling) of circuit board manufacture. This differentiates the product from certain other films that shrink or melt under the direct application of lead-free solder which, while conforming to increasing environmental legislation, is typically 30 to 40°C higher in temperature than conventional lead-based solder. Madicos polyimide film maintains whiteness, barcode readability and adhesive performance when exposed to 300°C for one minute.
High Chemical resistance* and improved durability
Further benefits are afforded by Madicos polyimide film at the post-construction stage of circuit board assembly, thanks to the application of an opaque white top-coat. The high chemical resistance of the material ensures that it remains in place during the arduous cleaning phase, which can involve the use of infrared, as well as harsh chemicals such as Freon. In addition, the product delivers excellent durability by withstanding the effects of abrasion and ribbon smudging.
Higher-quality
Madicos polyimide labelstock also meets manufacturer requirements to print more data at increasingly smaller font sizes, due to the continued reduction in size of circuit boards and labels. The substrates smooth ultra-consistent, high opacity white top-coating enables high resolution 600dpi printing of thermal transfer labels. This ensures extremely sharp fonts and dramatically reduces the problem of print drop-outs, commonly associated with lower quality top-coatings. The opaque top-coat affords further quality benefits, thanks to a superior resistance to yellowing when exposed to high temperatures.
Cost-effectiveness
Thanks to its competitive pricing, Madicos polyimide labelstock is set to offer manufacturers very significant cost-savings compared to certain other products, such as Kapton films. Furthermore, rather than compromising performance or quality, Madicos offering actually delivers a significant improvement in each area.
Commenting on the introduction of the gloss white polyimide labelstock, Andy Voss, Managing Director of Madico Graphic Films Ltd says, “For a long time, electronics manufacturers have had limited choice when it comes to selecting suppliers to fulfil their printed circuit board labelling needs and this has invariably impacted upon price. The introduction of Madicos own polyimide substrate is not only less expensive than certain other films, but surpasses the specific application requirements demanded by customers. We therefore expect it to represent a viable and competitive proposition that will widen the market choice available to customers.”
Madicos gloss white polyimide labelstock is supplied in thicknesses of both 25 and 50 microns and is available as product codes 01-860 and 01-861, respectively. Each product uses Madicos advanced P168 adhesive, which offers superior adhesion and performance when exposed to high temperatures and circuit board cleaning chemicals.
* In tests using a Ricoh B110-CR ribbon, the printed image was exposed to a number of industry standard board cleaning chemicals from manufacturers including Alpha Metals Inc, Kyzen Corporation and Zestron. The chemicals had no visible effect on the printed label and smudge resistance of the printed image was maintained.