Polyester Graphic Overlays

Screen Printing Labels

While the majority of the graphic overlays we print and construct for customers use polycarbonate as the substrate because it is less expensive, there are very specific reasons that you might choose to select a polyester substrate for a graphic overlay as a better alternative. (Some refer to polyester as Mylar, which is a DuPont tradename).

Benefits of Polyester Graphic Overlays

Polyester is a widely used material for graphic overlays due to its’ durable material in terms of ruggedness and fatigue resistance. Polyester is resistant to many external factors like abrasion, chemicals, temperature, and more! These properties make Polyester a great material to be used in harsh environments.

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When would I choose a polyester overlay?

Some of the reasons to choose a polyester nameplate substrate include:

  • The flex life when actuating a switch is much greater, about 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 actuations, which is ten times greater than polycarbonate. (actuate or actuations refers to the number of times an embossed button is pushed)
  • Much greater chemical, acid, and solvent resistance
  • Better scratch resistance
  • Generally tougher and more durable, and available with an additional hard coating to make it even more durable and scratch resistant. If you need the strongest most resilient substrate we offer, polyester is it.
  • The choice for extremely harsh environments
  • Usually a better outdoor choice, except where salt water exposure exists

Polyester Graphic Overlay Applications

Some applications where polyester graphic overlays shine:

  • Safety
  • Medical
  • Industrial
  • Outdoor Equipment
  • Harsh Plant Environments
  • Where cleaners, solvents, and chemicals will be used over and over again
  • Any application where a button needs to be pushed (actuated), many times over many years. Polyester has been shown to be superior in these applications.

Things to keep in mind with polyester materials & substrates:

There are some reasons to consider a polycarbonate overlay rather than a polyester graphic overlay. Keep these in mind when selecting your overlay material.

  • Polyester has limited thicknesses available (.005”, .007”, .010” for indoor applications and .006”, .008” for outdoor applications)
  • Polyester also has limited textures when compared to polycarbonate, although most are pleased with the options that are available)
  • It is not flame retardant

To order your polyester overlays, request a quote from Label-Aid today.

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