Technical data for Brother TZe Tapes
Laminated
Why do Brother P-Touch laminated labels last longer?
Unlike ordinary labels, our unique laminated tape technology ensures that a layer of superclear polyethylene laminate protects your text.
protective coating (PET) 38µm
lettering
adhesive (acrylic)
base film (PET)
colour layer for the base film
adhesive (acrylic)
backing paper
Brother P-touch laminated TZe tapes consist of seven layers of materials, resulting in a thin,
extremely strong label. Characters are formed with a thermal transfer ink and sandwiched
between two protective layers of PET (polyester film). The result is a virtually indestructible
label that can withstand even the harshest conditions.
In fact, we are sure about the durability of our labels because we’ve tested them to the
extreme, against the effects of abrasion, temperature, chemicals and sunlight. Results
prove that Brother P-touch laminated labels out perform competitor labels, staying legible
and affixed, so you can be confident of a professional quality label that has been designed
to last.
And we can prove it. The following pages will show you exactly how our labels are tested to
the extreme.
Patented lamination provides
an extra protective overcoat.
Laminated
Abrasion
Resistant
Abrasion Resistant Labels
Brother’s patented tape lamination technology ensures that Brother P-touch laminated
labels can withstand even heavy abrasion.
The Abrasion Test Procedure
A 1kg sanding device was passed over Brother P-touch laminated labels, and nonlaminated competitor labels. After 50 return passes the characters underneath the Brother
P-touch laminated label were completely unaffected and the lamination was only slightly
scratched
Abrasion Test Results
Brother P-Touch laminated TZe label
= No effect on print quality
Competitor non-laminated label
= Print quality affected
Brother P-Touch Laminated Label
Non-Laminated Competitor Label
Can withstand heavy abrasion
Abrasion
Resistant
Temperature
Resistant
Temperature Resistant Labels
Whether you want to use our labels in freezing conditions or alternatively in extremely
warm environments, our labels have been designed to last, we know this because we’ve
tested them to the extreme. In fact, results show that Brother P-touch laminated labels can
withstand temperatures from -80°C to 150°C.
The Temperature Test Procedure
Brother P-touch laminated labels, slightly roughened with abrasive paper, were attached
to stainless steel then heated and cooled. After 240 hours at -80°C no noticeable
change in tape adhesive or colour had occurred. After 240 hours at 150°C, despite slight
discolouration, the text on the label remained completely intact, and the heat actually
increased the tapes’ adhesive strength, due to a slight softening and spreading of the
adhesive.* We recommend TZe-M931/951/961 (Black on matt silver) as most resistant to
high temperatures in terms of discolouration.
Test Results
Label performance after exposure to head and cold
Temperature
Hours
Tape Condition
= no noticeable change
= text is legible but there is
some tape discolouration
*When tape is subject
to extremely high
temperatures for long
periods the laminate
film may be separated
or discoloured, or it
may shrink.
Test: Temperature
Temperature: 100°c
Duration: 240 hours
Labels: Brother P-touch Laminated Label
Resistant to temperatures
of -80°C to 150°C
Temperature
Resistant
Fade
Resistant
Fade Resistant Labels
Wherever you use P-touch laminated labels, they have been designed to stay as clear and
legible as the day they were applied.
The Fade Test Procedure
Several Brother P-touch laminated labels, in various colours, were attached to coated metal
plates and placed inside a fade-inducing chamber at 83°C. They were left for a period of
100 hours to simulate a year in sunny surroundings and then inspected for any obvious
changes.
The text colour remained unchanged and so all characters were still completely legible. To
the naked eye, the tapes’ background colour showed no change, except for the yellow tape
which showed some slight fading.
Abrasion Test Results
Test: Fade Meter
Temperature: 83°c
Duration: 100 Hours Labels: Brother P-touch Laminated Labels
ABCDE
ABCDE
ABCDE
Before Testing
Resistant to ultra violet exposure
Fade
Resistant
ABCDE
ABCDE
ABCDE
After Testing
Chemical
Resistant
Water
Resistant
Water and Chemical Resistance
Water and chemical resistance tests were conducted in two
stages:
Stage 1 - The water and chemical submersion test
Stage 2 - The water and chemical abrasion test
Stage 1 Water and Chemical Submersion Test Procedure
To test Brother P-touch laminated labels against the effects of water and chemicals, the
tapes were firstly attached to glass slides and immersed in a variety of liquids for 2 hours.
No change in appearance or structure of the labels occurred, and the labels remained
affixed to the slides.
Although some labels soaked in certain chemicals showed minor changes, rubbing the
labels with the same chemicals had no effect at all. So even if chemicals are spilled on your
Brother P-touch laminated labels, a quick wipe should be enough to prevent any damage.
Test Results for Brother P-Touch Laminated
Toluene
Hexane
Ethanol
Ethyl Acetate
Acetone
Mineral Spirit
Water
0.1N
Hydrochloric
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• = no print discolouration
•
Test: Water and Chemical Submersion
Chemical: Ethanol
Duration: 2 hours
Labels: Brother P-touch Laminated Label
Resistant to water and a wide
range of industrial chemicals
Chemical
Resistant
Water
Resistant
0.1 Sodium
Hydroxide
Stage 2 Water and Chemical Submersion Test Procedure
Brother P-touch laminated tape was affixed to several glass plates. A 500g weight with a
chemical and solvent infused cloth was passed over each label 20 times. As the results
below show, the print quality of Brother P-touch laminated labels was unaffected, unlike our
competitor’s non-laminated labels.
Toluene
Hexane
Ethanol
Acetone
Ethyl Acetate
Water
0.1N
Hydrochloric
Mineral Spirit
0.1 Sodium
Hydroxide
Test Results
P-Touch
Laminated Label
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Non-Laminated
Competitor Label
x
•
•
x
x
•
•
•
•
• = Print quality unaffected
x = Print quality affected
Labels after Testing
Test: Chemical Abrasion Chemical: Acetone
Brother P-Touch Laminated Label
Non-Laminated Competitor Label
Strong
Adhesion
Strong Adhesion
The Adhesion Test Procedure
To test the adhesive strength of Brother P-touch laminated tapes, 12mm standard tape and
extra strength adhesive tape were affixed to a variety of objects, all with different surfaces,
and left for 30 minutes. Adhesive strength was tested by removing the tape at an angle of
180 degrees.
Test Results
The table explains that an adhesive strength of approximately 6 Newtons* was maintained
with most materials. Our strong adhesive tape maintained an average of 50% more
adhesive strength compared to our standard tape and is suitable for more demanding
surfaces such as polypropylene.
Stainless
Steel
Glass
PVC
Acrylic
Polypropylene
Polyester
Coated Wood
Standard
TZe Tape
7.6
7.2
8.6
6.9
3.3
6.4
Extra Strong
Adhesive TZe Tape
10
10.1
11.5
11.5
7.4
11.5
*Results in Newtons for 12mm width tape
Strong
Adhesion
Strong adhesive to a wide
range of surfaces
Get Organised With Labels That Stick
Colour
Description
6mm
9mm
12mm
18mm
24mm
36mm
ABC
Black on Clear Laminated
TZe-111
TZe-121
TZe-131
TZe-141
TZe-151
TZe-161
ABC
Black on White Laminated
TZe-211
TZe-221
TZe-231
TZe-241
TZe-251
TZe-261
ABC
Blue on White Laminated
-
TZe-223
TZe-233
TZe-243
TZe-253
TZe-263
ABC
Red on White Laminated
-
TZe-222
TZe-243
TZe-242
TZe-252
TZe-262
Products
ABC
White on Black Laminated
ABC
White on Blue Laminated
ABC
Black on Yellow Laminated
ABC
Black on Blue Laminated
TZe-315
TZe-325
TZe-335
TZe-345
TZe-355
-
-
-
TZe-535
-
TZe-555
-
Tze-611
Tze-621
TZe-631
Tze-641
TZe-651
Tze-661
-
Tze-521
TZe-531
Tze-541
TZe-551
Tze-561
ABC
Blue on White Iron on Fabric Tape
-
-
TZe-FA3
-
-
-
ABC
Black on Red Laminated
-
Tze-421
TZe-431
Tze-441
TZe-451
Tze-461
ABC
Black on Green Laminated
-
Tze-721
TZe-731
Tze-741
TZe-751
-
6mm
PT-900, PT-1000, PT-1010, PT-1090, PT-H105,
P1230PC, PT-1280, PT-1290, PT-D200, PT-1400,
PT-1650, PT-7600, PT-1750, PT-1830, PT-1880,
PT-2420PC, PT-2430PC, PT-9500PC, PT-9700PC,
PT-9800PCN, PT-1950, PT-2300, PT-3600, PT-9600,
PT-2100, PT-2700, PT-7100VP, PT-2030, PT-2730,
PT-E100VP, PT-H300Li, PT-E300VP
9mm
PT-900, PT-1000, PT-1010, PT-1090, PT-H105,
PT-1230PC, PT-1280, PT-1290, PT-D200, PT-1400,
PT-1650, PT-7600, PT-1750, PT-1830, PT-1880,
PT-2420PC, PT-2430PC, PT-9500PC, PT-9700PC,
PT-9800PCN, PT-1950, PT-2300, PT-3600, PT-9600,
PT-2100, PT-2700, PT-7100VP, PT-2030, PT-2730,
PT-E100VP, PT-H300Li, PT-E300VP
12mm
PT-900, PT-1000, PT-1010, PT-1090, PT-H105,
PT-1230PC, PT-1280, PT-1290, PT-D200, PT-1400,
PT-1650, PT-7600, PT-1750, PT-1830, PT-1880,
PT-2420PC, PT-2430PC, PT-9500PC, PT-9700PC,
PT-9800PCN, PT-1950, PT-2300, PT-3600, PT-9600,
PT-2100, PT-2700, PT-7100VP, PT-2030, PT-2730,
PT-H300Li, PT-E300VP
18mm
PT-1400, PT-1650, PT-7600, PT-1750, PT-1830,
PT-1880, PT-2420PC, PT-2430PC, PT-9500PC,
PT-9700PC, PT-9800PCN, PT-1950, PT-2300,
PT-3600, PT-9600, PT-2100, PT-2700, PT-2030,
PT-2730
18mm
PT-1400, PT-1650, PT-7600, PT-2420PC, PT-2430PC,
PT-9500PC, PT-9700PC, PT-9800PCN, PT-2300,
PT-3600, PT-9600, PT-2700, PT-2730
Note: The above tapes are 8 metres in length except for the fabric tape which is 3 metres in length
Heat Shrink
Heat Shrink Black on White*
5.8mm
8.8mm
11.7mm
17.7mm
HSE-211
HSE-221
HSE-231
HSE-241
*Compatible with PT-E300VP only
For more information, visit
www.brother.com.au/our-technology/electronic-labeller/labelling-tapes
Choosing The
Right Tape
Choose the right tape for the job
Smooth
Flat
Surface
Textured
Large
Curved
Surface
(more
than 8mm
diameter)
Small
Curved
Surface
(less than
8mm
diameter)
Smooth
Textured
Smooth
Textured
= Recommended
= Acceptable
= Not Recommended
Choose the right tape for
the job
Choosing The
Right Tape
Security Tapes
Flexible Tapes
Strong Adhesive Tapes
TZe Laminated Tapes
Brother P-touch laminated tapes are available in a wide range of tape colours, widths and
styles. Your application and your choice of P-touch model should guide your ultimate tape
selection. The table below will also help you to determine the correct tape for your applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How thick are TZe tapes?
TZe tapes are around 160 micro metres in thickness but this varies slightly by tape type.
Which colour tape is recommended for high temperatures?
We recommend TZe-M931/951/961 (Black on matt silver) as most resistant to high
temperatures in terms of discolouration.
When I remove the label will messy adhesive remain? How can I remove it?
Tapes can be removed from most materials with relative ease leaving little or no adhesive on
the material. Extreme heat, humidity and certain chemicals may result in some residual
adhesive being left but this can be removed in most cases with Ethanol.
What is the shelf life of an unused TZe tape?
The shelf life of an unused TZe tape is 15 months from production.
Do TZe tapes contain chloride?
No chloride materials are used in the cassette case, tape or ink.
Do TZe tapes create any outgasing?
The following gases may be produced when labels are in a hot environment such as in front
of an air conditioner: toluene, n-butanol, 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, butyl carbinol acetate. These
levels are however very low.
Can TZe tapes be submerged in alcohol?
Submersion of TZe tapes in alcohol is not recommended for extended periods due to the
possible deterioration of the tape adhesive.
Is it safe to burn a P-touch label?
Although there may be some halogen in TZe tapes, it is of a very low level making it safe to
burn TZe tapes.
Do TZe tapes contain silicon?
Since the tape liner itself is silicon coated on both sides, there is a chance that small
amounts of silicon may remain on the adhesive layer underneath the label even after the
liner is peeled off.
Strong
Adhesion
Strong adhesive to a wide
range of surfaces
Do TZe tapes create static electricity?
When peeling off the tape liner there may be some very low levels of static electricity.
Do TZe tapes contain vinyl chlorine?
TZe laminated tapes contain very low levels of residual chlorine.
Which colour tape fades the least?
We recommend TZe-M931/951/961 (Black on matt silver) as our most fade resistant tape.
Fluorescent tapes are not recommended.
Do TZe tapes contain latex?
TZe tape uses acryl based adhesive materials and do not include latex.
Does TZe tape contain lead?
There is no lead in the cassette case, tape or ink.
Can TZe tapes be used on circuit boards?
We do not recommend that TZe tapes are used on circuit boards due to the sensitivity of circuit
boards to dust, static electricity and acid (although these are at very low levels in
TZe tapes)
Can TZe tapes be used on copper?
As adhesive materials used in our tape are acrylic and weakly acid we do not recommend that
TZe tapes are used on copper.
How long should security tape be attached before peeling off?
We recommend that TZe security tape is affixed for at least 24 hours in order to work effectively.
UL Certification
A number of our TZe tapes have been tested by Underwriters Laboratories, a
renowned independent testing laboratory. Our tapes have passed their rigorous
safety standards and gained UL certification and we continue to test more
tapes. For latest certification details and a list of certified tapes please contact
your local Brother office.
Can withstand heavy abrasion
Abrasion
Resistant
Brother offers lifetime Australian based product support.
Contact your local Brother representative for full product range.
For further information on Brother products or services,
or to arrange a free evaluation of your printing environment,
please contact the Brother Commercial Team on 1300 885 989
or email: corporatesales@brother.com.au
Brother International (Aust) Pty Ltd.
Microsoft, Windows, the Windows logo and/or other Microsoft products referenced herein are either registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
in the U.S. and/or other countries. Brother and its logo are trademarks of Brother and its logo are trademarks of Brother Industries Ltd., Japan.
All specifications are subject to change without notice. All registered trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective companies.
TZe_Technical_Data : 18, February, 2014