3M™ Thermal Transfer Printable
Label Materials
Selection Guide
Wide range of applications
Most 3M Thermal Transfer Labelstocks are approved to
internationally recognised standards on a wide range
of surfaces and with a wide range of ribbons and are
generally printable by standard printing methods
(eg flexographic, letterpress, screen and hot foil etc.)
Benefits:
Principles:
The advanced thermal transfer
printing technology offers
you…
• permanent product
identification
• high print resolution
• indoor and outdoor use
• fast and quiet printing
• approved to UL and CSA
standards
The thermal transfer process
works as follows:
• Print head positioned on strip
form heating element
• Selective element heating to
required temperature
• Light contact of inked
ribbon to print substrate
• Immediate colour cooling on
substrate
thermal transfer
ribbon
heating element
fil
m
Thermal transfer printing is the leading technology for
applying variable information such as barcodes,
warranties, date labels etc to products to identify and
underwrite the quality of the product. In thermal transfer
printing the image is made by heat transfer of ink from a
carrier ribbon to the labelstock material. There are many
types and colours of ribbon available giving high quality imaging. By careful selection of ribbon and 3M
Thermal Transfer Labelstock you can also get very
durable images (e.g. brakefluid resistant barcodes for
automotive applications).
ink
In any business or any industry accurate product identification is paramount. Whether you need to identify
computers, automotive parts, domestic appliances or any
other durable product, 3M™ Thermal Transfer Labelstock can provide the solution.
topcoat
film
liner
adhesive
Adhesives
We have a wide range of materials to meet your needs
with adhesives suitable for most applications from High
Surface Energy surfaces such as glass or steel and some
plastics (eg ABS) to Low Surface Energy surfaces such
as powder coatings, oil contaminated surfaces, some
plastics (eg PP, PE). Our adhesives can also be used on
curved or textured surfaces or, if required, we can
provide removable adhesives.
100 High Temperature acrylic, up to 230°C short term heat resistance,
excellent solvent and chemical resistance. Superior shear properties
even at elevated temperatures.
150 High Temperature acrylic, up to 230° C short term heat resistance.
High shear properties. Ideal for labelling circuit boards.
200 High Performance, long ageing, unmodified acrylic, capable of
withstanding short term temperatures up to 177°C, excellent peel
strength on metal and HSE plastics.
241E Permanent acrylic, General purpose for a variety of surfaces.
Label characteristics
Adheres to
textured surfaces
Adheres to low
surface energy plastics
and powder painted
surfaces
Adheres to curved
surfaces
Adheres to high
surface energy
plastics and
metals
250E Modified acrylic, designed to achieve a balance between excellent adhesion to LSE plastics combined with low ooze. Superior low
temperature adhesion, BS 5609 approved.
300 and 300E High-Strength acrylic, High initial tack,
especially suitable for low surface energy substrates.
310E High-Precision acrylic, A firm adhesive for high surface energy
substrates, with lowest risk of oozing during converting and printing.
320 High Tenacity acrylic , designed for applications requiring high
bond strength on a variety of surfaces including HSE and LSE plastics.
Provides excellent resistance to flagging on small diameters.
350 & 350E High-Holding acrylic, The most universal adhesive,
ideal for powder coated surfaces, LSE and oily metals.
400 Unmodified acrylic , with excellent clarity and U.V resistance,
ideal for overlaminating and window labelling, Excellent low temperature performance.
450E A low cost, medium performance acrylic, designed for high
volume interior applications. Ideal for adhering to board in packaging
applications.
550 High-stability acrylic, Stable adhesive which neither builds nor
degrades over time.
AP-360 acrylic, General purpose adhesives for a variety of surfaces.
SARM Special removable adhesive, for security applications
0
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Low temperature
resistance
UV durability
Removable
Chemical
resistant
Tamper evident
High temprature
resistance
Humidity
resistant
UL/CSA Approved
Thermal Transfer Product overview
0
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7874E
Matt white polyester
3M TT3 MW PET50-350E/46-65WG
-40°C 150°C
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
no
no
yes
76610
3M TT3 MW PET50-350E/20-65WG
-40°C 150°C
5
5
5
5
4
2
5
no
no
yes
7870
3M TT0 MW PET50-350E-90WG
-40°C 150°C
5
5
5
5
5
3
5
no
no
yes
7815EH
3M TT5 MW PET50-310E-90WG
-40°C 150°C
4
5
4
4
1
1
4
no
no
yes
7810EH
3M TT5 MW PET50-300E-90WG
-40°C 120°C
4
5
4
4
4
3
3
no
no
yes
76600
3M TT1 MW PET36-310E-65WG
-40°C 150°C
4
5
4
4
1
1
3
no
no
yes
5770
Adhesive 550, 20 micron;
densified kraft liner 90 g/m2, 81 micron
-40°C 120°C
4
5
3
3
1
2
1
yes
no
yes
0
-1
-2
7871E
Gloss white polyester
3M TT2 GW PET50-350E/46-65WG
-40°C 150°C
4
5
4
5
5
5
4
no
no
yes
7868E
3M TT2 GW PET50-350E/20-65WG
-40°C 150°C
4
5
4
5
5
2
5
no
no
yes
7816E
3M TT2 GW PET50-310E-65WG
-40°C 150°C
3
5
3
4
1
1
4
no
no
yes
Adhesive 550, 20 micron;
densified kraft liner 90 g/m2, 81 micron
-40°C 120°C
3
5
2
4
1
2
1
yes
no
yes
7860E
3M TT2 GW PET50-300E-65WG
-40°C 120°C
2
5
2
4
4
3
2
no
no
yes
7879E
Matt silver polyester
3M TT3 MS PET75-350E/46-90WG
-40°C 150°C
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
no
no
yes
76751
3M TT3 MS PET50-350E/46-65WG
-40°C 150°C
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
no
no
yes
76750
3M TT3 MS PET50-350E/20-65WG
-40°C 150°C
5
5
5
5
4
2
5
no
no
yes
7813EH
3M TT5 MS PET75-300E-90WG
-40°C 120°C
4
5
4
4
4
3
2
no
no
yes
76800
3M TT3 MS PET50-300E-65WG
-40°C 120°C
4
5
4
4
4
3
2
no
no
yes
7818EH
3M TT5 MS PET75-310E-90WG
-40°C 150°C
4
5
4
4
1
1
3
no
no
yes
7808E
3M TT3 MS PET50-310E-90WG
-40°C 150°C
5
5
5
5
1
1
3
no
no
yes
76730
3M TT1 MS PET50-310E-65WG
-40°C 150°C
4
5
4
4
1
1
4
no
no
yes
76708
3M TT1 MS PET36-450E-65WG
-20°C 70°C
2
2
2
3
1
1
2
no
no
yes
7826
Adhesive 400, 20 micron;
densified kraft liner 90 g/m2, 81 micron
7874E
3M TT3 MW PET50-350E / 46-65 WG
5771
0
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WG
65
46
350
PET50
MW
TT3
3M
7874E
E
5 = excellent; 4 = very good; 3 = good; 2 = fair; 1 = poor
*UL/CSA approvals pending.
liner type (white glassine)
thickness or weight of liner (in this case 65 micron)
weight of adhesive (GSM)
adhesive type
film type and thickness (polyester 50 micron)
product appearance (matt white)
topcoat type (Thermal Transfer number 3)
produced by the 3M Company
product code
manufactured in Europe
7872E
Gloss silver polyester
3M TT2 PS PET50-350E/46-65WG
76745
7875E
5772
0
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-2
2
-40°C
5 150°C
1
35
45
54
35
15
15
44
5no
3no
yes
3M TT2 PS PET50-350E/20-65WG
-40°C 150°C
5
5
4
5
5
2
5
no
no
yes
3M TT2 PS PET50-310E-65WG
-40°C 150°C
4
5
3
4
1
1
4
no
no
yes
Adhesive 550, 20 micron;
densified kraft liner 90 g/m2, 81 micron
-40°C 120°C
2
2
2
5
1
1
1
yes
no
yes
2
5
2
4
4
3
2
no
no
yes
7863
Bright gloss silver polyester
Adhesive 300, 20 micron;
densified kraft liner 90 g/m2, 81 micron
76550
Matt clear polyester
3M TT3 MC PET50-350E/46-65WG
-40°C 150°C
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
no
no
yes
76500
3M TT1 MC PET25-310E-65WG
-40°C 150°C
4
5
4
4
1
1
5
no
no
yes
76530
3M TT1 MC PET50-310E-65WG
-40°C 150°C
4
5
4
4
1
1
4
no
no
yes
7876E
Gloss clear polyester
3M TT2 GC PET50-350E/46-65WG
-40°C 150°C
4
5
4
5
5
5
4
no
no
yes
7861E
3M TT2 GC PET50-300E-65WG
-40°C 120°C
2
5
2
4
4
3
2
no
no
yes
76510*
3M TT0 GC PET36-310E-65WG
-40°C 150°C
3
5
3
4
1
1
2
no
no
no
4
5
4
5
5
5
5
no
yes
yes
4
5
4
5
5
5
5
no
yes
yes
4
5
4
5
5
5
5
no
yes
yes
2
2
2
4
2
2
3
no
no
no
0
-1
-2
-40°C 120°C
0
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-2
0
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3698E
3690E
3692E
Matt silver cast vinyl
Adhesive 320, 30 micron;
glassine liner 90 g/m2, 75 micron
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-60°C 90°C
Gloss white cast vinyl
Adhesive 320, 30 micron;
glassine liner 90 g/m2, 75 micron
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-60°C 90°C
Gloss yellow cast vinyl
Adhesive 320, 30 micron;
glassine liner 90 g/m2, 75 micron
0
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-60°C 90°C
0
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76998*
Matt white polyethylene
3M TT0 MW PE90-241E-65WG
7874E
3M TT2 PS PET50-350E / 46-65 WG
-30°C 70°C
5 = excellent; 4 = very good; 3 = good; 2 = fair; 1 = poor
WG
65
46
350
PET50
PS
TT3
3M
7874
E
liner type (white glassine)
thickness or weight of liner (in this case 65 micron)
weight of adhesive (GSM)
adhesive type
film type and thickness (polyester 50 micron)
product appearance (platinium silver)
topcoat type (Thermal Transfer number 2)
produced by the 3M Company
product code
manufactured in Europe
Speciality Thermal Transfer
High Temperature Products
7812
3921
3922DSL
Matt white polyimide
Adhesive 100, 51 micron;
densified kraft liner 90 g/m2, 76 micron
Matt white cast acrylate
Adhesive 150, 30 micron;
densified kraft liner 94 g/m2, 80 micron
Double sided siliconised unprinted
glassine liner
0
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-40°C 300°C
5
5
5
5
1
5
3
no
no
yes
-40°C 300°C
5
5
5
5
1
5
3
no
no
yes
-40°C 300°C
5
5
5
5
1
5
3
no
no
yes
2
5
3
5
1
2
3
no
no
no
-40°C 150°C
2
5
3
5
1
2
3
no
no
yes
-40°C 107°C
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
no
no
yes
-40°C 107°C
3
2
3
2
3
2
2
no
no
yes
-40°C 93°C
1
2
1
4
1
1
1
no
yes
yes
-40°C 93°C
1
3
1
4
1
1
1
no
yes
yes
-40°C 120°C
1
2
1
4
1
1
1
no
yes
yes
-26°C 77°C
2
1
2
4
4
1
1
no
yes
no
-26°C 77°C
2
1
2
4
4
1
1
no
yes
no
-40°C 120°C
2
5
3
4
4
3
2
no
yes
no
-40°C 120°C
2
5
3
4
4
3
2
no
yes
no
-40°C 120°C
2
5
2
4
4
3
2
no
yes
no
-40°C 120°C
2
5
2
4
4
3
2
no
yes
no
-40°C 120°C
2
5
2
4
4
3
2
no
yes
no
-40°C 120°C
2
5
1
4
4
3
2
no
yes
yes
0
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Long Distance Scannable
3929
Silver Retroflective
Adhesive 200, 25 micron;
densified kraft liner 130 g/m2, 114 micron
0
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-40°C 150°C
Recyclable
8000
Recyclable matt white film
identification systems
Adhesive 350E, 20 micron;
glassine liner 90 g/m2, 77 micron
7777
Gloss white polypropylene
Adhesive AP-360, 23 micron;
densified kraft liner 81 g/m2, 80 micron
7291
Adhesive AP-360, 23 micron;
densified kraft liner 81 g/m2, 80 micron
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Security Products - Destructible
7613
7885
3812
7711
7713
White vinyl
Adhesive 350, 20 micron; PE coated white
kraft liner 90 g/m2, 81 micron
Matt white cast vinyl
Adhesive 200, 25 micron;
densified kraft liner 90 g/m2, 80 micron
White matt polyurethane
Adhesive 350, 25 micron;
glassine liner 90 g/m2, 75 micron
Acetate
Matt white, adhesive 250E, 20 micron;
glassine liner 90 g/m2, 75 micron
Matt clear, adhesive 250E, 20 micron;
glassine liner 90 g/m2, 75 micron
0
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Security Products - Void
7380
76970
7866
7382
76971
7384
76901
76903
Polyester
Matt white, adhesive 300, 25 micron;
densified kraft liner 90 g/m2, 81 micron
Matt white, adhesive 250E, 20 micron;
glassine liner 90 g/m2, 77 micron
Gloss white, adhesive 300, 20 micron;
densified kraft liner 90 g/m2, 78 micron
Matt silver, adhesive 250E, 20 micron;
glassine liner 90 g/m2, 77 micron
Matt silver triangles, adhesive 250E, 20 micron;
glassine liner 90 g/m2, 77 micron
Bright silver, adhesive 300, 25 micron;
densified kraft liner 90 g/m2, 81 micron
Purple STOP permanent adhesive 241E, 20 micron;
glassine liner 62 g/m2, 56 micron
Purple STOP removable adhesive SARM, 20 micron;
glassine liner 62 g/m2, 56 micron
5°C
70°C
2
1
2
5
5
2
5
no
yes
no
5°C
70°C
2
1
2
5
5
2
5
no
yes
no
5 = excellent; 4 = very good; 3 = good; 2 = fair; 1 = poor
Typical applications
3M™ Thermal Transfer Labels are designed to
withstand extreme conditions such as weather
variations over a number of years, or chemical and oil
spillage. They can also be applied to uneven, curved or
rough surfaces, or to low surface energy substrates such
as plastics, with full adhesion qualities. This is why they
are extensively used in the automotive and electronics
industries as well as in a wide range of industrial
applications.
High performance solutions for
extreme situations
Durable solutions for indoor
and outdoor use
3M 7872E on oily
metal
3M 7813E for outdoor use on low
energy surfaces
3M 7879EFL on powder coated surfaces
3M 7818E has a firm
adhesion on high energy
surfaces
3M 3921 is heat
resistant in the
production process
3M 7871E on oily
surfaces
3M 7870 on powder coated
surfaces
Multi-purpose solutions for
indoor and outdoor use
3M 7816E has the best barcode
readability (no oozing during
printing)
Ribbons
• Important notice for purchasers:
All statements, technical information and recommendations contained
in this brochure and its inserts are based on tests, and are believed to be
accurate. Accuracy and completeness of information cannot be guaranteed, however, and you should ensure that the product is suitable for its
intended application before use. All questions of liability relating to
these products are governed by the terms of sale subject, where applicable, to prevailing laws.
3M is a trademark of the 3M Company.
Tapes & Adhesives Group
3M UK PLC
3M Centre, Cain Road
Bracknell, Berkshire
RG12 8HT
UK
Tel : 0870 60800 50
Fax: 0870 60700 99
Tapes & Adhesives Group
3M Ireland
Adelphi Centre
Upper Georges Street,
Dun Laoghaire
Co. Dublin, Ireland
Tel : 01 280 3555
Fax: 01 280 3509
3M 5770 for big volume
usage
3M 7291 recyclable
3M 7808E for high energy
surfaces
Special applications
There is a wide range of thermal transfer materials available for special applications. For further details please
refer to the “3M Speciality Labels” selection guide.
Printed on chlorine-free paper 07/2003 - PE-BE-SB-15
There is an extremely wide range of ribbons available,
ensuring that you have not only the performance characteristics you need, but the aesthetic characteristics to
enhance the look of your product and the image of your
company. It is important that you choose the correct
ribbon for each type of label material. Contact 3M for
more details on the appropriate choice of ribbons.