Chemical Resistant Labels

• Unparalleled Chemical Resistance: Our labels withstand repeated chemical exposure, including solvents, acids, alkalis, and cleaning agents. With our labels, you can be confident that important information will remain intact and legible, even in the presence of aggressive substances. When exposed to aggressive chemicals, the ink will not smudge, fade, or lose legibility.

• Superior Durability: We understand that labels must endure rigorous industry conditions. That is why our chemical-resistant labels use top-quality materials highly resistant to abrasion, moisture, and UV light, ensuring longevity even in challenging environments.

• Customization Options: We believe in providing labels that meet your unique requirements. Whether you need specific sizes, shapes, colors, or designs, our expert team can customize the labels to match your preferences. With our tailored solutions, you'll have labels that perfectly fit your needs.

• High-Quality Printing: Our labels feature high-resolution printing technology, delivering crisp and clear text, graphics, and barcodes, ensuring optimal readability and precision, minimizing the risk of errors, and enhancing operational efficiency.

• Easy Application: Our chemical-resistant labels come with a strong adhesive backing, making them easy to apply on various surfaces. Whether you are labeling containers, equipment, or assets, our labels adhere securely, saving you time and effort during the application process.

• Compliance with Standards: We understand the importance of meeting industry standards and regulations. Our chemical-resistant labels are designed and manufactured in compliance with relevant guidelines, ensuring you stay compliant with safety and labeling requirements.

• Chemical Manufacturing: Chemical-resistant labels identify containers, drums, tanks, and pipes that store or transport chemicals during the manufacturing process. They ensure accurate identification and help prevent mishandling or cross-contamination.

• Laboratory and Research Facilities: In laboratories, chemical-resistant labels identify hazardous substances, reagents, and samples. These labels provide crucial information such as chemical names, concentrations, handling instructions, and safety warnings.

• Pharmaceutical and Healthcare: Chemical-resistant labels are used in pharmaceutical manufacturing to identify drug products, vials, bottles, and medical equipment that come into contact with chemicals during production, storage, or sterilization processes.

• Cleanrooms and Controlled Environments: Cleanroom labels require chemical resistance to withstand rigorous cleaning and sterilization procedures. These labels identify equipment, tools, and components in cleanroom environments with chemicals and disinfectants.

• Industrial Manufacturing: Chemical-resistant labels are employed in industrial settings to label containers, equipment, and machinery regularly exposed to chemicals during manufacturing. They ensure accurate identification and help maintain safety protocols.

• Chemical Storage and Handling: Chemical-resistant labels are vital for labeling hazardous chemical storage areas, cabinets, and safety equipment such as spill kits and personal protective equipment (PPE). These labels provide essential safety information and warnings.

• Automotive and Aerospace: Chemical-resistant labels are used in these industries to label components, parts, and systems that may come into contact with chemicals during manufacturing, assembly, or maintenance.

• Food Processing and Packaging: Chemical-resistant labels are utilized in food processing and packaging to identify containers, packages, and equipment that may encounter cleaning agents, sanitizers, or chemicals used in food production environments.

• Environmental and Waste Management: Chemical-resistant labels are crucial for labeling hazardous waste containers, drums, and storage areas. They help ensure proper handling, disposal, and compliance with environmental regulations.

• Oil and Gas Industry: Chemical-resistant labels identify pipes, valves, containers, and equipment in the oil and gas industry. They withstand exposure to corrosive chemicals, fuels, and lubricants commonly used in these operations.

In creating chemical-resistant labels that will function for their entire lifecycle, choosing the correct combination of raw face stock materials, coatings, and adhesives is imperative. In choosing the label, we consider several factors to help guide you in selecting the appropriate label package, including 

• Chemical or solvent type

• Chemical or solvent concentration

• Phase of matter of the chemical 

• Condition of chemical exposure 

• Duration of chemical exposure

• Mechanisms of leaching and corrosion 

• surface to which the label is applied

• GHS and other regulatory labeling requirements 

General Label Design Considerations

The ability of a company to convey information and packaging affects consumer perception of your brand. In addition to understanding a label's components and core functions, a label's physical form, printing requirements, and aesthetics are equally important. Any label information, from the form factor to the content on the page, should be clearly defined. When considering the design space of medical labels, we consider the following:

• Do your labels need to be clean and sterile?

• Clean = free of particulate matter

• Sterile = free of microbial contamination

• . Is proof of process sterilization required or desired?

• What type of sterilization are you performing?

• Is box-level proof sufficient evidence, or is itemized-level proof required?

• How or where should such evidence be present on the label for clear viewing?

• What information is needed on the label?

• Who is going to read the label?

• Does it require tracking or tracing capabilities?

• Are there specific regulatory requirements that need to be present on the label?

• Do you need to maximize the information contained on the label?

• What colors are needed?

• What are the size and dimensions of the container being used?

• Is this going on a box or a smaller vial?

• Does the label need to lie flat with it wrapped around?

• Is the surface flat or curved?

• What is the operating temperature and humidity of the environment your labels will be exposed to? 

Each of the questions listed above will influence the type of label construction we suggest for your particular application.

Finding the correct chemical-resistant label

To find chemical-resistant labels that meet your quality standards, you must partner with a label expert familiar with a wide array of controlled environment applications. Our team can work with your technical team to design, prototype, and manufacture engineered sterile labels for your application. Start by requesting samples and discussing your project with our team.

1. How do chemical-resistant labels differ from industrial-grade and commercial labels?
   

   • Functionally, they are interchangeable terms with no discernable differences. All three are made to withstand harsh conditions, extreme weather, or long-term storage.

2. What industrial applications can CleanMark chemical-resistant labels service?

• We can service several industrial applications for both cleanroom and non-cleanroom. Below is a short example of some of the industrial applications we cover, but we will work with you to fully understand your needs for your unique application. 

Cleanroom Application	Non-cleanroom applications
Healthcare and hospitals	Petroleum and natural gas
Medical devices	3PL transportation and logistics
Pharmaceuticals	Original equipment manufacturers (OEM)
Microelectronics and semiconductors	Danger and warning label pictograms
Food processing	Chemical plant safety labels




3. What are CleanMark chemical-resistant labels used for?

• Hazard warnings 

• General identification of chemicals and assets

• Content track and trace

• Surviving harsh shipping and handling during transportation

• Stable in extreme temperatures and environments 

• Quality assurance

• Label inventory 

• Returns and recall facilitation

4. What face stock materials are commonly used for chemical-resistant labels?

• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 

• Polyethylene

• Vinyl

• Polyimide

• Biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP)

5. How does each of these face stock materials compare to each other?

• PET is ideal against weathering and moisture because of its high tear and peel strength, smear resistance, and unreactive nature to many chemical reactions.

• Vinyl functions best for curved surfaces that require strong adhesion. However, it is not the most resistive option in extreme environments so additional overlaminates may be required for protection. 

• Polyethylene is a cost-effective alternative to PET and vinyl, but finding the appropriate adhesive can be challenging due to its low surface energy. 

• Polyimide is a high-performance polymer that resists heat. It is a popular material for electronic labels due to its resistance to chemicals and current-induced heat. 

• BOPP provides adequate strength against tearing while allowing optical transparency in the label. 

6. Can I mark or write on waterproof chemical-resistant labels?

• Yes, you can write with fine-tip permanent markers. 

7. How is chemical resistance determined? 

• Please refer to the ASTM D543 test for more details on the procedures used to assess plastic materials' resistance to various chemical reagents.

8. Why did my label fall off after being splashed with my solvent?

• In addition to the face stock material needing adequate resistance, the adhesive must also be resistant to possible dissolution or degradation when exposed to harsh solvents. 

9. What industries face regulatory compliance standards for labels?

• General construction

• Food and nutrition labels

• Automotive

• Industrial manufacturing

• Chemical plants

• Electronics

• Aerospace

• Agriculture

• Medical

• Pharmaceuticals

• Transportation

• Oil and gas