Oracal 351 Polyester – Metallised polyester film with excellent dimensional stability and good long-term aging properties for making high-quality adhesive labels and signs.
Preparing the surface
The high-quality special adhesives used for ORACAL® self-adhesive materials create an excellent bond with just about any clean, smooth and weatherproof surface which is free of grease, wax and silicone. Prior to applying the ORAFOL® self- adhesive products, clean the surface thoroughly with isopropanol and wipe it dry with a cloth.
Gas bubbles may form between the film and the surface if any solvent residue remains as a result of improper cleaning or if the lacquer on the surface is too fresh. Allow at least three weeks to elapse before applying the film to lacquer which has been air-dried or baked. Isopropanol is recommended as the cleaning agent as other agents may, under certain circumstances, attack the lacquer or reduce the adhesive strength of the film.
For surfaces which tend to outgas, such as polycarbonate products, we recommend the following steps. Clean the surface, apply a piece of film and store it at +60° C for about 24 hours. If after this time bubbles have formed in the bond, outgassing is still taking place. In such a case, the plastic material must be thermally treated or stored under room conditions for a longer period. When using ORAMASK® plotter films, it is important that the surfaces receiving the designs be thoroughly cleaned.
Isopropanol is preferred for cleaning lacquered surfaces and vehicle tarpaulins. When used on those surfaces (tarpaulins in particular), the spirit should be removed as soon as possible after cleaning to prevent it from penetrating into the surface coating. Be sure to allow sufficient time for the solvent to evaporate after cleaning.
For jobs calling for multi-coloured designs, make absolutely sure that the ORAMASK® plotter films are only applied onto paint which is thoroughly dry. Residual solvents may cause residue from the adhesive to remain after the stencil film is removed. Application temperatures The application should be at the temperature mentioned in the respective data sheet. A significant drop in temperature should be avoided during the first 24 hours after adhesion. Should a temperature drop nonetheless occur, we recommend treating the film with hot air from a hot-air gun.
Removing silicone paper Lay the cut plotter film with the film side down on a flat surface. Pull back only as much silicone paper as required to begin mounting. Always draw the silicone paper from the film, never the other way round.
ORAFOL recommends to use only material with the same batch number for the same colour. There are two major methods of application: dry and wet adhesion.
Dry adhesion:
- First position the film cut and press it at one corner on the surface.
- Then adhere the remainder by applying a plastic squeegee across the film in overlapping sweeps.
- Depending on the size of the cut being mounted, the silicone paper may be removed completely before bonding or gradually during the adhering procedure.
- When using ORATAPE® application paper or film, pull these slowly away from the film at a 180° angle.
Wet adhesion:
- Should only be done in warm weather when temperatures are at least +18° C.
- Spray the exposed adhesive side with low-surface-tension water (water mixed with a flushing agent) and lay it upon the receiving surface.
- The ease of precise positioning is the great advantage of the wet adhesion method.
- Press the film to the surface using sweeping, overlapping motions. Make sure that the water is completely squeezed out from between the surface and the adhesive.
- For wet adhesion, we recommend ORATAPE® MT72 application paper. After a short drying period, remove application paper carefully at a 180° angle.
- Slightly moistening the back side of the application paper makes this procedure even easier. The bond is improved if the film is pressed again to the surface after a few hours.
- To avoid differences in perceived colour after adhesion, ORACAL® coloured films should always be worked and adhered in one direction only.
- When mounting across overlapping sheets of metal or expansion joints, use a sharp knife to separate the film at these points so that the film does not come loose when exposed to motion. Different background profiles are used in vehicle construction.
- When applying films to such backgrounds always follow the profile. Never just lay out the film and press it under tension into the recess. With overlapping film adhesion, it is important to make sure that the edges of the film sheets overlap by a minimum of 4 mm and a maximum of 12 mm.
- When applying film to film, make absolutely sure that only films of the same manufacturer and the same type are put on top of each other (monomeric film on monomeric film and polymeric film on polymeric softened film).
