Label Interfaces TM
"Dedicated to the art and science of industrial marking and product AutoID."
July 10, 2003
Volume 1, No. 2 Page 1
From the Editor:
A bit of historical barcode trivia....
What was the very first item scanned with a barcode in a supermarket, as part of the grocery checkout? When and where did this occur?
If you know, email me the answer, for a chance at winning a 128 Meg Pen Drive (USB "plug 'n play"...very handy). This contest expires on July 31st, 2003.
Jim Williams
NEW PRODUCTS:
THERMOGARD®
XF 581 and 582
The "Ultimate" Kapton Label
Thermal Transfer Printable
LEAD FREE
Polyonics XF 581 vs. Competitor's Polyimide
Heated at 316 ºC for 50 min.
BARCODE INDUSTRY FORUM
Dr. Jim Williams, Polyonics' founder has begun hosting a Harsh Environment Barcode bulletin board. If you have a question on barcode labels, this is THE PLACE. Jim vows to help you find the answers..if he can't, he'll help you find someone who can
Harsh Environment AutoID Forum
Polyimide
Label Test Kit
FREE
SAMPLES AVAILABLE
Evaluate
the effects of process changes on your barcode label
BEFORE
you
find out that your current labels don't work.
email your request to
POLYONICS, INC.
867 Rt 12
Westmoreland, NH 03467 USA
Phone:
+1 (603) 352-1415
Fax:
For the electronics industry: Is the global "no-lead" soldering initiative real...or just a passing fad? So what...you may ask? I am only interested in labels....read on.
The number and type of computers and devices is growing exponentially, which means that obsolete and "worn out" electronics will have an ever-increasing impact on the waste streams of the world, i.e. landfills, water pollution, etc.
To
this end, the EU has put forth a "lead free" mandate, to be implemented
by July 1, 2006,
to help slow the growth of lead and heavy metals in the environment.
Due
to the globalization of the world economy, Asian countries are following
suit, with voluntary efforts beginning this year. Closer to home, Polyonics
has been asked by several large electronics manufacturers (in Asia
as well as Mexico)
to certify our compliance with Lead Free Labels (as well as a few other
hazards such as chromium, formaldehyde, to name a couple). And
I thought all we had to worry about was higher temperatures for
“no-lead” soldering.
So, here are a few issues to think about in the coming months:
1. Are the labels you are using/selling/recommending up to the task of higher temperatures? The soldering temperatures will be upward of 260-280°C, because the lead-free solders have higher melting points.
2. Even standard polyimide (or Kapton®) labels currently in use, may have some problems under the more harsh environments. I'll "pat myself on the back", and say that Polyonics has a remedy for that eventuality with 2 new products (see photo on the left sidebar).
3. Clearly, all labels used in the manufacturing processes must be reevaluated in the light of the new process conditions being contemplated. Certain labels which are marginal, such as some polyesters and polyetherimides need to be retested as soon as the new process conditions are known.
For more information, visit Polyonics Label FAQs . Also, there are several resources available for you to help keep you apprised of current developments. See our links page at www.polyonics.com/links/index.html dedicated to this issue. BOOKMARK IT AND STAY TUNED !!
TRICK QUESTION: When does a 1 mil polyimide label material become a “2 mil polyimide” label material ?
As Mr. Spock might say “..this is illogical..” But wait… this type of confusion happens globally. The label specification may call out a “2 mil (or 50 μ) polyimide”…yet, we are seeing labels being submitted which are based on a 1 mil (25 μ) polyimide film. This happens when a 1 mil/25 micron thick layer is coated onto the 25 micron base film!! So, a 1 mil coating on a 1 mil film equals 2 mils. This solution seems less expensive than a coated 2 mil polyimide or Kapton® film, because it uses 50% less polyimide film, which is VERY expensive stuff. OK, where’s the catch?
Polyimide film is such a terrific product for very high temperatures because it does not shrink or change physical properties at the temperatures encountered in electronics manufacturing. The barcode will become unreadable once the coating starts to dimensionally change, while the Kapton film underneath does not. Thick coatings on these films have a tendency to shrink or embrittle under these same conditions. Coated 1 mil films are less stiff than their 2 mil base film counterparts, which makes them difficult to handle, and unsuitable for autoapply applications.
So… “be careful out there”, especially in competitive situations. Make sure that when a user specifies a 1 mil polyimide label, that the spec is based on a 1 mil film, and a 2 mil label is based on a 2 mil film. Define the film thickness and coating thickness to ensure the correct product is specified. If a competitors’ part number (or sample of their label) is available, we’ll “check it out”. Of course, if the so-called “2 mil label” works, use it and save money…I always preach about functionality. BUT…also TEST, TEST, TEST.
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