HSQY-4.5 micron BOPET Polyester Thermal Transfer Film CR14 for Printing

What Is 4.5 Micron BOPET Thermal Transfer Film CR14?

4.5 micron BOPET thermal transfer film CR14 is an ultra-thin biaxially oriented polyester base film developed for manufacturing thermal transfer ribbons, also called TTR ribbons or thermal printing ribbons. The clear PET carrier film provides the mechanical support onto which ink, release, adhesion-promoting, and protective backcoat layers are applied during ribbon converting.

The 4.5 µm thickness is widely used for standard thermal transfer ribbon production because it combines low material weight with the tensile strength, dimensional stability, thermal stability, surface consistency, and web-handling performance required for high-speed coating, slitting, and printing processes.

Important: this product is the BOPET carrier film used to manufacture thermal transfer ribbons. It is not a finished wax, wax-resin, or resin ribbon and is not intended to be loaded directly into a barcode printer without further coating and converting.

Ultra-Thin Clear BOPET Base Film

CR14 Thermal Transfer Ribbon Film

Film for Coating, Slitting, and Converting

Key Advantages of 4.5 Micron BOPET TTR Base Film

• Ultra-thin construction: Reduces PET consumption and enables more ribbon length within a given roll diameter.

• High mechanical strength: Supports coating, drying, rewinding, and high-speed slitting without excessive web breaks.

• Thermal stability: Helps the ribbon remain dimensionally stable under the heat generated by a thermal printhead.

• Controlled surface quality: Supports uniform application of ink, release layers, primers, and protective backcoats.

• Consistent thickness: Helps maintain stable coating weight, ribbon tension, print density, and printer feeding.

• Good handling performance: Designed for jumbo-roll transport, coating-line unwinding, rewinding, and precision slitting.

• Custom converting options: Roll width, roll length, core size, winding direction, and surface treatment can be matched to the customer's process.

CR14 BOPET Thermal Transfer Film Specifications

The following values describe the typical commercial specification associated with the CR14 grade. Final guaranteed values, test methods, tolerances, roll configuration, and acceptance standards should be confirmed in the approved technical data sheet and purchase specification before production.

How BOPET Film Is Used in a Thermal Transfer Ribbon

A finished thermal transfer ribbon normally contains several functional layers. The BOPET film forms the central carrier. One side receives the transferable ink system, while the opposite side receives a heat-resistant and low-friction backcoat that remains in contact with the printer's thermal printhead.

Why Is 4.5 Micron PET Film Used for TTR?

Thermal transfer ribbon manufacturers need a carrier film that is thin enough to transfer heat efficiently but strong enough to withstand coating, drying, slitting, winding, transport, and printer operation. A 4.5 µm BOPET base offers a practical balance between heat transfer, roll capacity, strength, and processing reliability.

Thinner film can increase the usable ribbon length within a fixed roll diameter and reduce plastic consumption. However, ultra-thin film also demands tighter control of thickness uniformity, tensile strength, shrinkage, edge quality, roll hardness, wrinkles, static, and winding tension.

Thermal Transfer Ribbon Applications

• Barcode and logistics label ribbons

• Wax ribbons for coated and uncoated paper labels

• Wax-resin ribbons for paper and synthetic labels

• Resin ribbons for PET, PP, PE, polyimide, textile, and durable labels

• Monochrome and color thermal transfer ribbons

• Fax, ticketing, portable printer, and word-processor ribbons

• Flat-head and near-edge ribbon converting, subject to the complete ribbon design

Critical Quality Requirements for TTR Base Film

Information Required for an Accurate Quotation

To recommend the correct CR14 film configuration, provide the following information with your enquiry:

1. Required nominal thickness and thickness tolerance

2. Jumbo-roll width or finished slit width

3. Required roll length, roll weight, and maximum outer diameter

4. Core inside diameter, core material, and core length

5. Plain, corona-treated, chemically treated, or adhesion-promoted surface

6. Which side will receive ink and which side will receive the backcoat

7. Wax, wax-resin, resin, color, fax, or specialty ribbon application

8. Coating chemistry, drying temperature, coating speed, and winding direction

9. Required tensile, elongation, shrinkage, haze, COF, and surface specifications

10. Trial quantity, annual demand, destination port, and required delivery schedule

Request CR14 Samples and Pricing

Custom BOPET Film Services

• Custom jumbo-roll and slit-roll widths

• Custom roll length, roll weight, core, and outer diameter

• Plain or adhesion-promoted surface options

• Winding-direction and coated-side identification

• Custom cartons, labels, pallet marks, and export packaging

• Technical sample evaluation before commercial production

• EXW, FOB, CIF/CNF, DDU, and door-to-door shipping support

Quality Documentation

HSQY can provide available quality-management, inspection, and material documentation for the supplied film grade. Buyers should request the CR14 technical data sheet, certificate of analysis, roll inspection criteria, storage recommendations, and any application-specific compliance documents required for the finished ribbon.

HSQY International Exhibitions

Production and Packing

Packing and Delivery

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CR14 BOPET thermal transfer film?

CR14 is the grade designation used for this 4.5 µm ultra-thin BOPET carrier film. It is designed as a base material for coating and converting thermal transfer ribbons used in barcode, fax, ticketing, label, and specialty printing applications.

Is this a finished thermal transfer ribbon?

No. It is the transparent polyester carrier film. A ribbon converter must apply the ink system, release or primer layers, and protective backcoat before the product can be slit and used in a thermal transfer printer.

Why is 4.5 micron BOPET commonly used for thermal transfer ribbons?

The 4.5 µm thickness provides an effective balance of heat transfer, mechanical strength, web handling, roll capacity, and material efficiency. It is thin enough for efficient printing but strong enough for coating, slitting, winding, and printer operation when correctly processed.

Can CR14 film be used for wax, wax-resin, and resin ribbons?

It may be evaluated for wax, wax-resin, resin, monochrome, and color ribbon systems. Final suitability depends on the ink chemistry, release layer, primer, backcoat, drying conditions, coating weight, printer type, and required print performance.

Is a treated or coated surface available?

Plain and customized adhesion-promoting surface options can be discussed. The buyer should specify the coating chemistry, target adhesion, dyne level, coated side, and whether the treatment is required for the ink side, backcoat side, or both.

Which properties should be tested before bulk ordering?

Confirm thickness profile, tensile strength, elongation, heat shrinkage, surface roughness, haze, coefficient of friction, treatment level, coating adhesion, roll hardness, edge quality, winding, static behavior, and compatibility with the complete ribbon formulation.

Can the width, length, core, and winding direction be customized?

Yes. Provide the required width, roll length, roll weight, core inside diameter, maximum roll diameter, winding direction, coated-side orientation, and slitting tolerance. Feasibility depends on production and converting conditions.

How should 4.5 micron BOPET film be stored?

Store the rolls in their original protective packaging in a clean, dry, temperature-controlled area away from direct sunlight, moisture, dust, heat sources, solvents, and strong odors. Keep jumbo rolls properly supported and allow cold-stored material to acclimatize before opening to reduce condensation.

Can HSQY provide samples for coating trials?

Sample availability depends on the requested width, length, treatment, and current stock. Provide your coating system, trial width, core, winding direction, and evaluation method so HSQY can review the most appropriate sample configuration.

What is the MOQ and production lead time?

MOQ and lead time depend on the jumbo-roll width, slitting plan, surface treatment, roll configuration, and production schedule. Include your annual demand and trial quantity in the enquiry for an accurate commercial proposal.

What information should be included in a CR14 quotation request?

Include thickness, width, length, roll weight, core, maximum roll diameter, surface treatment, coated side, winding direction, ink type, coating-line conditions, required technical values, trial quantity, annual volume, destination, and delivery date.

About HSQY Plastic Group

HSQY Plastic Group supplies PET and BOPET film materials, flexible packaging films, plastic sheets, and thermoformed packaging products for international B2B customers. The team can support film-grade selection, roll conversion, custom dimensions, samples, inspection documentation, export packing, and international delivery.

For the fastest recommendation, send your ribbon type, coating chemistry, coating-line width, required roll configuration, technical specifications, trial plan, and estimated annual demand.

Contact HSQY for CR14 Film