Definition and composition of hot stamping foil

Hot stamping foil is a material that transfers the metal or pigment coating on its surface to the surface of the object being hot stamped through heating and pressure. It can add metallic luster, color, and patterns to the surface of objects, serving as decoration and identification.

Basic composition

Base film layer: This is the basic support layer of hot stamping foil, usually made of polyester (PET) film. Polyester film has good flexibility, tensile strength, and heat resistance, and can withstand high temperatures and pressures during the hot stamping process, ensuring the integrity of the hot stamping foil. Its thickness is generally between 12-25 μ m, and different application scenarios may choose different thicknesses of base film.

Release layer (isolation layer): located on the base film, its main function is to enable the hot stamping foil to be smoothly separated from the base film before hot stamping and transferred to the surface of the hot stamping material. The release layer is usually composed of materials such as wax and silicone resin, which reduce their adhesion to the base film when heated, facilitating the hot stamping process.

Color layer (coating): This is a crucial layer that determines the color and appearance of the hot stamping foil. The color layer can be a metal foil (such as thin sheets or vapor deposited films of metals such as gold, silver, copper, etc.), used to produce a hot stamping effect with metallic luster; It can also be a resin coating containing pigments, which can achieve hot stamping of various colors by blending different pigments. The thickness and quality of the color layer directly affect the color saturation and glossiness after hot stamping.

Adhesive layer: located above the color layer, its function is to firmly adhere the hot stamping foil to the surface of the object being hot stamped under the action of heating and pressure during the hot stamping process. The composition of the adhesive layer varies depending on the type of hot stamping material being used. Common types include thermoplastic resins, acrylic resins, etc. These resins melt and tightly bond with the surface of the hot stamping material when heated.