Tips To Ensure Your Labels Can Stand The Heat

A lot of scientists and lab workers are used to working in high temperatures. Let’s take a look at some important factors that should be considered before selecting labels for containers that are kept in high temperatures.

Make Use Of Heat-Resistant Labels Depending On Your Application

It’s vital to have labels that will take care of adherence and have a strong resistance to high temperatures. You will encounter multiple situations in which your samples will come under high temperatures:

• Steam autoclaving for various laboratory containers and beakers that need high temperatures like 150⁰
• Most samples are prepared in boiling temperatures
• The PCR thermocyclers that usually have a process of DNA extraction go at 95⁰ Moreover, the heated lids can also go up to 110⁰C.

One of the most common types of labels is the Steri-Thermo tag. This label can be used permanently or even get removed for all substances that need autoclaving. Having removable labels is a plus point because they can be taken off from the glassware without leaving residue and scratches. This is very useful for glassware where re-identification is needed.

Bring Cryonic Storage and Storages That Are Chemically Resistant

Most containers in laboratories that go through the autoclaving process are required to be disinfected regularly, using 70% ethanol spray bottles or bleach in some circumstances. You will need labels that are resistant to autoclaving and chemical exposures. Use the Wrap-around labels that can be applied to containers that have to be autoclaved before the cryonic storage in freezing temperatures.

There are some circumstances when the labels are exposed to high temperatures as well as harsh buffers. When encountered with such procedures, it’s best to use the self-laminating labels that resist long-term mixing in xylene and similar chemicals.

Select The Right Printing Method

The thermal transfer method can withstand a lot of heat resistance and harsh conditions that are experienced in laboratories. This approach uses the heat to send the ink from a ribbon on the label. These ribbons come in rolls and you can easily print as soon as you get the demand. The thermal transfer printing method offers a variety of options for various label materials. Therefore, you can easily find the product you are looking for by sticking via thermal transfer.

Another option is to use the laser and inkjet printers. These printers can also be used in high temperature, harsh conditions, and give good resistance to fading colours. Since these printers require big sheets of labels, this approach is mostly used for printing big batches of the same information. The inkjet printers are more proficient with colours.

The direct thermal method should not be used for printing if the labels cannot withstand high temperatures. Some labels come with coatings of leuco colours and dye that will most certainly go black if exposed to heat. So if these labels are put in extreme heat, the whole coating will change its colour to black and your printout will be ruined. However, there are some situations when these labels are used. This happens when the printed information has to be deliberately removed, so they expose it to heat.

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