In the production process of protective safety clothing, the application of reflective heat transfer tape is crucial. It not only enhances the wearer's visibility, but also effectively improves the safety of clothing. For manufacturers, how to properly iron these reflective tapes onto clothing is a key link to ensure the quality of the final product.

Application Principle of Reflective Heat Transfer Tape

Reflective Heat Transfer Tape is usually composed of reflective film, adhesive and protective layer. During the ironing process, the tape firmly attaches the reflective film to the clothing fabric through heat and pressure. Because reflective heat transfer tape can quickly cure and produce chemical adhesion with fabric under high temperature conditions, it can effectively withstand high temperature, wear and washing, ensuring that it still maintains excellent reflective effect after long-term use.

Ironing process

Preparation

• Choose the right ironing tool: Generally, the ironing of reflective heat transfer tape requires the use of a high-temperature heat press (heat transfer machine). Manual irons can also be used, but care should be taken to control the temperature and pressure.
• Make sure the fabric is clean and flat: Before ironing, make sure there are no stains, oil stains or any debris on the surface of the garment. Any uneven surface may affect the fit of the tape.
• Preheat the ironing equipment: If using a heat press, adjust the temperature and pressure according to the specifications of the tape. Generally, the ironing temperature of the reflective heat transfer tape should be set at 150-160°C and the time should be controlled at 10-15 seconds. The specific parameters should be implemented according to the product manual.

Ironing operation steps

• Place the reflective tape: Align the reflective heat transfer tape with the area to be pasted, ensuring that it is positioned accurately. The protective layer on the tape should face up to avoid sticking to the iron or heat press during ironing.
• Heat and pressurize: Place the ironing equipment on the reflective tape, apply a certain amount of pressure evenly, and maintain the temperature. The heat transfer tape releases the adhesive when heated and adheres firmly to the fabric of the garment.
• Cooling time: After ironing, wait for the tape to cool naturally for a few seconds to ensure that the adhesive is fully cured and prevent the heat transfer tape from shifting or deforming during the cooling process.
• Remove the protective film: After the tape cools down, gently peel off the protective film and check whether the reflective tape is perfectly adhered to the garment. If the edge of the reflective tape is peeling off or warping, it may need to be reheated and compacted.

Notes

Temperature and time control

• Too high or too low temperature will affect the adhesion of the reflective tape. Too high temperature may cause the tape to burn and the reflective effect to be damaged; too low temperature may cause the tape to not adhere fully or even fall off during washing.
• Ironing time should not be too long. Excessive heating may damage the durability of the reflective film and affect the reflective effect.

Pressure control

• Too much pressure during ironing will flatten the reflective layer of the reflective tape, resulting in unclear reflective effect; too little pressure may cause the tape to not be fully bonded to the fabric, affecting the durability of the product. Reasonable pressure should ensure a good contact surface between the tape and the fabric.

Preventing wrinkles on the tape

• When ironing, ensure that the tape is positioned accurately and the clothing is flat to avoid wrinkles or bubbles on the tape. Wrinkles will affect the reflective effect of the reflective tape and even make it unstable.

Choose an appropriate heat press

• When using a heat press, it is best to choose equipment with precise temperature control and pressure regulation to ensure that the reflective tape of each component is evenly exposed to heat and pressure.

Fabric adaptability

• Reflective tape is suitable for most synthetic fiber fabrics, such as polyester, nylon, cotton, etc., but for some special fabrics (such as highly elastic fabrics, fabrics with special coatings, etc.), tests should be conducted before using reflective heat transfer tape to ensure that the heat transfer effect is good and lasting.

Maintenance after washing

• After ironing, the reflective tape needs to be fully cooled and ensure that it is firmly adhered. The washing performance of clothing fabrics is the key to the long-term maintenance of the reflective tape effect, and usually international washing standards such as ISO6330 and ISO3175 need to be followed. Be careful to avoid using high-temperature and highly alkaline detergents to prevent the tape from aging.

Summary

The application of reflective heat transfer tape in protective safety clothing not only improves the safety of clothing, but also makes the wearer more conspicuous in low-light environments, reducing the risk of accidents. During the ironing process, it is crucial to maintain the correct temperature, pressure and time control. Manufacturers should adjust the appropriate process parameters according to different fabrics and tape types to ensure that the reflective tape can be firmly attached to the clothing and has a long-lasting reflective effect.

Through precise operation and scientific maintenance, reflective heat transfer tape will play its best role in safety protective clothing and provide more professional and safe protection.