Reflective Heat Transfer Vinyl


Easy to Cut, Weed, and Transfer Chinastars produces and supply high quality reflective heat transfer vinyl directly for buyers and other vinyl suppliers. You can not only get a wide variety of reflective HTVs, but the most professional guidance.

Customizable Reflective HTV

We offer various kinds of reflective iron on vinyls to target different base fabric such as polyester, stretchable, flame retardant, water repellent, industrial wash, etc.

Reflective Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)

Reflective HTV comes in rolls with 50cm, 60cm, or custom width. With design software and vinyl cutter, we can cut the reflective HTV into various logos, letters, patterns, and weed and heat press them onto the T-shirts, jackets, pants, bags, etc.

Reflective HTV for Graphic Design

Iron-On / High Visibility / Home Wash / Oeko-Tex 100

  • Color: Silver or grey
  • Width: Up to 140cm, all sizes available
  • Packing: 50m/roll, 100m/roll, or customized
  • Feature: A self-adhesive sticky liner helps to fasten the letter onto the liner which makes the cutting and weeding process easier, especially for intricate and complex designs.
Note: If your base fabric is stretchy, like knitted elastic fabric, we also have the stretch reflective HTV (Item No. CSR-4003EM), which can be cut by laser machine and applied on any stretch fabric.

Color Reflective HTV

Iron-On / Multi-Color / Home Wash / Oeko-Tex 100

  • Color: Black, white, yellow, red, or customized
  • Width: Up to 140cm, all sizes available
  • Packing: 50m/roll, 100m/roll, or customized
  • Feature: Full and uniform color, good reflective effect.
All colors can be customized as per Pantone Colors. Silver is no longer your only option for reflective heat transfers; For bright colors, we attach a white back liner to prevent the dark fabric color from penetrating to the surface.

Rainbow Reflective HTV

Iron-On / Iridescent / Home Wash / Oeko-Tex 100

  • Color: Black - Reflective Rainbow
  • Width: Up to 140cm, all sizes available
  • Packing: 50m/roll, 100m/roll, or customized
  • Feature: Appears dark in daytime and reflects rainbow aurora colors at night, which is even more striking and eye-catching.

Printable Reflective HTV

Printing / Home Wash

Reflective HTV for screen printing is suitable for making small size fine graphics with thin lines. You can customize adhesives to fit different base fabrics. Thicker plastic film carriers won't curl easily when screen printing.

Reflective Heat Transfer Tape (Iron-On Tape)

Iron-on reflective tape comes in rolls with 1”, 2”, or custom widths, and can be ironed directly onto T-shirts, vests, jackets, etc. It can also be ironed on webbing, oxford, tricot fabric tapes and then sew the dual-color warning tape onto workwear.

Silver/Grey Iron-On Reflective Tape

High Visibility / Home Wash / Non-FR / Oeko-Tex 100

  • Color: Silver or grey
  • Width: Any width from 1cm to 140cm.
  • Packing: 50m/roll, 100m/roll, or customized
  • Feature: Transfer film can be applied to different base fabrics. We offer customized solutions.

Flame Retardant Reflective Heat Transfer Tape

UL certified for NFPA2112, EN469, EN20471

  • Width: 1cm -140cm for silver color, 2'',3'',4'' for two-tone color
  • Packing: 50m/roll, 100m/roll, or customized
  • Feature: Suitable for applications for firefighting and technical rescue clothing and equipment.

Segmented Iron On Reflective Tape

EN 20471 / ANSI107 / Oeko-Tex 100 / Segmented

  • Color: Silver
  • Width: 2'' or customized sizes
  • Pattern: Customizable
  • Feature: Provides functional, flexible, comfortable wearing experience for both protective uniform and sportswear.

Industrial Wash Iron On Reflective Tape

EN 20471 / ANSI107 / Industrial Wash / Oeko-Tex 100

  • Color: Silver
  • Width: Any width from 1cm to 140cm.
  • Packing: 50m/roll, 100m/roll, or customized
  • Feature: Ideal for heavy workwear and functional garments which are exposed to industrial laundering.
Industrial Wash iron on Reflective Tape

Get Free Sample, Apply Solution, Catalogue, Certificates & Best Price

Contact now to get free sample of all kinds of reflective products, we are willing to help with your any product application and provide full solution.

  • free sample of reflective tape
  • reflective material catalogue
  • reflective tape certificates

01. What is reflective heat transfer vinyl?

Reflective heat transfer vinyl or reflective HTV for short is composed of PET protective film liner, micro glass beads, and hot melt glue. The micro-glass beads will reflect light and become highly visible at night. It can be cut into certain patterns, weeded and heat pressed on various fabrics.

The raw materials are ecologically inert, do not contain PVC or heavy metals, in accordance with Oeko-Tex Standard 100.

02. What is iron on reflective tape?

Iron on / heat press / heat transfer reflective tape is composed of micro glass beads bonded to heat-activated PES/TPU adhesives. It can be cut into strips of different widths and heat-pressed onto various base fabrics.

03. 4 Most majorly used iron equipments

Reflective heat transfer vinyl is normally applied to substrates by hot pressing or ironing. The commonly used ironing equipment are as follows:
  • Heat Press Machine

    1. Heat Press Machine

    Cylinder or manual type, suitable for iron reflective logo or stripes, easy to use, adjust to proper pressure and pay attention to pressure consistency. For large patch ironing, you’ll need to custom large press machines.

  • Heated Roll Laminator

    2. Heated Roll Laminator

    Suitable for applying on continuous substrates such as webbing, oxford, or tricot fabric tape, and is highly efficient.

  • Fusing Machine

    3. Fusing Machine

    Suitable for continuous ironing of large cut-parts or webbing or other fabric tapes, more efficiency compared with the heat press machine, but will need more professional operation to avoid possible problems such as wrinkles or partially insecure and easy to fall off.

  • Electric Iron

    4. Electric Iron

    Suitable for ironing small volumes or sample testing etc.

04. Ironing guidelines for different reflective HTV

To guarantee the press fastness of reflective heat transfer vinyl, we’ll need to fully melt the hot melt adhesives, press and penetrate it into fabrics, and combine them as one. The three key elements to the ironing fastness are as below:
  • 1. Temperature

    The ironing temperature applied on the hot melt adhesives must be higher than its melting point, so as to soften and melt it into fabrics and be sticky.

  • 2. Dwell time

    The necessary dwell time must be guaranteed to make sure all hot melt adhesives can achieve the above temperature. Please note that it’s not pressing time, but dwell time. The time of the heat plate moving up and down can’t be counted in.

  • 3. Pressure

    Only if enough pressure is applied on reflective heat transfer vinyl, the hot melt glue can be pressed and penetrated into substrates, and at the same time squeeze out the air between, and guarantee the press fastness.

For different heat transfer vinyl and iron equipment, the needed temperature, dwell time and pressure vary a lot. Click the link to learn more about the recommended iron conditions of each vinyl and machine for your reference. /How_to_apply_CNSS_heat_transfer_film.html

Always remember to test each time prior to mass production to get the best heat condition, even for the same substrates and machine.

05. Iron instructions: How to apply reflective heat transfer tape?

See the article about HOW TO APPLY CNSS REFLECTUVE HEAT TRANSFER FILM.
  • HOW TO APPLY CNSS REFLECTUVE HEAT TRANSFER FILM

    Step 1. Remove adhesive side liner, exposing the dry adhesive. Do not remove the reflective side liner.

  • HOW TO APPLY CNSS REFLECTUVE HEAT TRANSFER FILM

    Step 2. Place the heat transfer film on the fabric with adhesive side down and apply heat and pressure as described below.

  • HOW TO APPLY CNSS REFLECTUVE HEAT TRANSFER FILM

    Step 3. Allow heat transfer film to cool to room temperature. Remove the reflective liner by lifting one corner and pulling (180° angle) in a continuous, smooth manner.

06. Handling precautions of reflective heat transfer tape

  • 1. Conditions Test

    The lamination temperature, time, speed, and pressure listed above shall be used as a guide. For each fabric, the proper conditions must be tested beforehand to assure adequate adhesion and physical performance.

  • 2. Flat Surface

    Work on a flat surface where heat and pressure can be applied. Do not heat over seams and stitches.

  • 3. Cover A Cold Cotton Fabric

    It is suggested to cover a cold cotton fabric (around the weight of 150-200g/m²) on the surface when heated with a heat press machine, to avoid fabric blistering due to high instantaneous temperature.

  • 4. Temperature Control

    Do not exceed the lamination temperatures listed above because the clear polyethylene liner may become difficult to remove and affect the physical performance. If high temperatures are required for bond durability, follow lamination steps 1-3 using recommended temperature, remove the paper liner, and then laminate again at the higher temperature (using a non-stick slip sheet or cotton fabric to protect the reflective surface).

  • reflective heat transfer tape iron handling precautions
  • 5. Temperature Measuring Points

    Please be noted that different equipment will have different temperature measuring points. The operation temperature refers to the temperature on the surface of hot melt glue.

  • 6. Dwell Time

    The dwell time refers to the heating time on the surface of hot melt glue, which shall not include the time for the plate to go up and down.

  • 7. Preshrinking Treatment

    Some fabrics are heat-sensitive and easy to shrink and shall do the preshrinking treatment before ironing. Otherwise, the reflective heat transfer vinyl will wrinkle because of the shrinkage of the fabric.

  • 8. After-Iron Notice

    Please wait till the ironed product cool to below 70℃ to peel off the protective film (Layer D as shown in photo 1, 2, 3), try to pull in a continuous smooth manner without pauses to avoid pause marks.

  • 9. Handling Environment

    Please handle the reflective heat transfer vinyl in an environment of temperature below 35℃ and humidity lower than 70%. And try to avoid direct contact with sweat, acid/alkaline, water, or solvent.

  • 10. Care Instructions

    Use neutral detergent in hand wash. Do not pre-soaking. Hot water wash is allowed around 40 use detergent that contains bleach, acid, or alkali.

07. How to evaluate the laminating fastness?

The above-mentioned three elements are inseparable. We’ll need to find the balance point of the three elements on different iron equipment. Normally as we know, the higher the temperature, the longer the dwell time, the larger the pressure, the better the laminating fastness. But at the same time, it will definitely bring a series of problems such as the deformation of substrates and the low efficiency. So how to properly evaluate the laminating fastness is vitally important to guide the iron operation.
  • reflective heat transfer vinyl

    1. Select the proper vinyl

    Before ironing, select the right reflective heat transfer vinyl and make sure it can penetrate and attach firmly onto the targeted substrates.

  • measure thickness of hot melt glue and fabric

    2. Instant evaluation based on thickness

    Use a micrometer thickness gauge to measure the thickness of hot melt glue and fabric separately before ironing. And measure the total thickness after ironing. if after ironing, at least 40μm (or 0.04mm) of the hot melt glue is penetrated into the fabric, then the laminating fastness is definitely good.

  • reflective heat transfer vinyl wash test

    3. Final evaluation by washing test

    The washing test according to EN ISO 6330 standard can evaluate the iron fastness. After certain wash cycles, the vinyl shall not separate and fall off the fabric, and for certified products, the after-wash reflectivity shall be higher than 100 cd(lx.m²).

08. Frequently asked questions about reflective HTV

  • 1. How to choose appropriate heat transfer film for our fabric? Are free samples available?

    Yes. Our company can provide free samples for testing. If possible, we'd highly suggest customers send the target fabric to our factory. We'll arrange a technical person to test on it and do a washing test. After that, we'll recommend the appropriate heat transfer film and send samples to you.

    After you heat apply them in your factory, in case you can't do washing test in your factory, you can also send the test samples to our factory for washing test to guarantee the washing fastness.

  • 2. For the same fabric, can we follow the same heating condition as last time?

    No. You can't. Even for the same fabric, the heat condition will be different due to the change of climate, transportation, storage environment, or different batches of the base fabric (esp. for waterproof fabric, the waterproof treatment varies between lots). Please make sure to test before each mass production to make sure we get the best heat conditions.

  • 3. Why does there appear to have a transparent film line along the edge of heat transfer film? And the protective film seems hard to peel off; part of them even stick on the reflective side.

    reflective heat transfer tape iron solution

    Reasons: Lamination temperature is so high as to melt the protective film, which turns into a transparent film line on both sides. The melting protective film becomes hard to peel off or part of them even can't be peeled off.

    Suggestion:

    1. Lower down the laminat1on temperature. If high temperatures are required for bond durability, follow lamination steps 1-3 using recommended temperature and pressure for 2-3 seconds to fix the heat transfer film on the fabric, remove the paper liner, and then laminate again at the higher temperature for suggested duration time (using a cotton fabric to protect the reflective surface).

    2. Choose reflective heat transfer vinyl with a sticky liner instead to avoid this issue.

  • 4. Why part of my reflective logo can't be transferred to the fabric and stuck on the protective film?

    reflective heat transfer tape iron solution

    Reason: Not enough line pressure.

    Suggestion: Increase the pressure. Different types of machines will be quite different in pressure. It is suggested to adjust according to the actual test results. In the below photo, because of the embroidery edge on the fabric, it will take larger pressure to fully heat transfer the reflective logo. And because the customer uses the continuous automatic press machine, it usually needs larger pressure than suggested. The problem solves after he readjusts the pressure.

  • 5. Why did the heat transfer film fall off after only a few washes?

    Reason: Temperature too low or duration time not long enough.

    Suggestion: Use higher temperature or press with longer time (Note: the press time means the actual time to press on the fabric, which doesn't include the time for the platen to move up and down).

  • 6. Why do the fabric and heat transfer film wrinkle after the heat operations?

    reflective heat transfer tape iron solution

    Reason: Multiple reasons can cause the wrinkles, such as temperature too high, or different thermal shrinkage between fabric and heat transfer film.

    Suggestion: First, try to lower down the temperature, see if it solves the wrinkle problem. In case the wrinkle persists under a very low temperature (lower than the suggested lowest temperature), then we consider the possibility of different thermal shrinkage. Heat on the fabric first to allow it to shrink before we apply our heat transfer film.

  • 7. Why there are blisters on part of the heat transfer film after the heat operations?

    reflective heat transfer tape iron solution

    Reason: Temperature is too high, or uneven heating.

    Suggestion: First, try to lower down the temperature, see if it solves the problem. In case the blisters persist under very low temperature (lower than the suggested lowest temperature). then cover a cold cotton fabric on the surface to ensure even heating.

  • 8. Why do scratches appear on the surface of heat transfer film right after I peeled off the protective film?

    reflective heat transfer tape iron solution

    Reason: Very likely, you pause in the middle when peeling off the protective film.

    Suggestion: Try to remove the reflective liner by lifting one corner and pulling (180° angle) in a continuous, smooth manner, to avoid possible pause marks and affect the appearance on the reflective side.

  • 9. How to overlap iron the reflective heat transfer vinyl?

    We don’t recommend overlap ironing. If needs to overlap, we’d suggest using the water repellent heat transfer vinyl, increasing the pressure and extending the dwell time.

  • 10. Why is Ironed webbing partially with poor fastness?

    Reason: For webbing ironing, if the thickness of webbing is uneven, the pressure on the thinner part is less, so the thinner part will have poor laminating fastness.

    Solution: Use larger pressure as suggested to solve the problem.

Reflective Material And Safety Clothing Manufacturer

Why Choose CHINASTARS

A World's Leading Manufacturer of Reflective Material in China, Reliable Public Company, Stock Code 301077.
  • Business

    Since
    2003

  • Location

    Hangzhou,
    China

  • Factory

    40,000㎡
    Area

  • Exported

    100+
    Countries

  • Creative

    170+
    Patents

  • Effective

    800+
    Employees

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