How well does Brady B-488 adhere to stainless steel, powder coat, and plastic surfaces?

Brady B-488 uses a Permanent acrylic adhesive. For optimum bond strength, surfaces should be cleaned with an isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipe and allowed to dwell for 24 hours prior to full chemical or mechanical stress.

Which thermal transfer ribbons and Brady printers are compatible with B-488?

The official manufacturer-recommended thermal transfer ribbon for Brady B-488 is R4300. Using the recommended resin or hybrid ribbon ensures crisp edge definition, high-density 2D DataMatrix scanning, and compliance with abrasion rub standards. Compatible Brady printers include benchtop industrial systems (i3300, i5100, i7100, BBP33) as well as rugged portable field printers (M210, M211, M510, M610, and M710) depending on the SKU form factor.

How does Brady B-488 withstand industrial chemicals, solvents, and fuels?

Brady B-488 resists common industrial reagents including lubricating oils, water, mild acids, and aliphatic solvents.

Is Brady B-488 UL Recognized, CSA Accepted, or Halogen-Free?

Brady B-488 meets RoHS 2011/65/EU and REACH (SVHC) directives. It is a UL Recognized Component under standard(s) UL969 with File Number(s) MH17154.

What surface preparation is required before installing Brady B-488?

To achieve maximum bond strength, ensure the bonding substrate is clean, dry, and free of machining oils, silicone mold release agents, or dust. Wipe the surface with a 50/50 Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) and water solution using a lint-free wipe, allow to evaporate completely, and apply firm, uniform roller or thumb pressure across the entire label face.

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Brady B-488label_film_tape31 Orderable SKUs

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Brady B-488: B-488 MATTE WHITE POLYESTER LABEL STOCK

Q: What are the primary industrial applications for Brady B-488 (B-488 MATTE WHITE POLYESTER LABEL STOCK)?

Brady B-488 is a high-performance Polyester designed specifically for rating plates, asset tags, and industrial equipment identification. It features a Permanent acrylic engineered for long-term industrial reliability in environments requiring -40°C to 160°C (-40°F to 320°F) performance.

Q: What is the continuous operating temperature range for Brady B-488?

Brady B-488 is rated for continuous service temperatures from -40°C to 160°C (-40°F to 320°F). In laboratory heat-aging tests, it maintains dimensional stability and barcode contrast across broad thermal cycles.

B-488 is a UL Recognized Component for labeling and marking when printed with Brady Series R4300 ribbon.

Material Composition

Polyester

Adhesive System

Permanent acrylic

Operating Temperature

-40°C to 160°C (-40°F to 320°F)

Total Thickness

—

Solvent & Chemical Proof

B-488 Application & Installation Blueprint

Chemical & Harsh Solvent Resistant Polyester • Physical application tolerances and surface engineering

Industrial Fit Certified

Installed in real-world industrial environment

Chemical Resistant Rating Plate Application

1Apply onto clean stainless steel, glass, or solvent-degreased metal equipment.

2Press firmly for instant high-tack acrylic wet-out.

3Resists ongoing splash, washdown, and rub exposure to aggressive industrial reagents including IPA, Skydrol, and brake fluid.

Engineering Tolerance: Resistant to 100+ double rubs with IPA, brake fluid, and gasoline when paired with thermal transfer resin ribbons.

Substrate Compatibility & Adhesion Matrix

Stainless Steel Processing Gear

Chemical Bond (5/5)

Solvent Degreasing Tanks

Solvent Proof (5/5)

Automotive Engine Compartments

Fluid Resistant (4.9/5)

Hydraulic Manifolds & Valves

Fluid Resistant (4.9/5)

Tested Environmental Survivability

IPA, Acetone & DegreasersSkydrol & Aviation HydraulicBrake Fluid & GasolineAbrasion & Steam

Recommended Field & Shop Tools:

i3300 / i5100 Benchtop PrinterM610 Handheld PrinterR4300 / R6200 Ribbon

Orderable Part Numbers, Packaging & Distributor SKUs

Official Brady SKUs, roll dimensions, package quantities, list pricing, Grainger part numbers, and printer compatibility for B-488.

Popular B-488 Formats

Standard industrial rolls and die-cut sizes with unit cost breakdown

#1 Popular Choice

Standard Part

THT-164-488-1-SC

0.9 in H x 0.9 in W

Roll of 1000 Labels

Roll / Pack Total:$90.99 USD

Normalized Unit Cost:$0.091/label

Material Area Cost:$0.11/sq in

Supported Hardware:

BBP11BBP12THT 1" Core Printers

#2 Standard Format

Standard Part

M5-97-488

0.9 in H x 0.9 in W

Cartridge of 280 Labels

Roll / Pack Total:$61.99 USD

Normalized Unit Cost:$0.22/label

Material Area Cost:$0.27/sq in

Supported Hardware:

M510M511

Grainger

#3 High Capacity

Standard Part

B30C-4000-488

4 in W x 130 ft L

Cartridge of 130 Feet

Roll / Pack Total:$200.99 USD

Normalized Unit Cost:$1.55/ft

Material Area Cost:$0.03/sq in

Supported Hardware:

BBP35BBP37i3300+5

Grainger

All 31 Orderable Part Numbers

Pricing: $29.99 – $315.99 USD

Catalog SKU	Dimensions	Packaging / Qty	List Price & Unit Cost	Order MOQ	Compatible Printers
THT-164-488-1-SCPopular UPC: 662820803812	0.9 in H x 0.9 in W	Roll of 1000 Labels	$90.99 USD $0.091/label ($9.10/100) $0.11/sq in	1 ROL Standard Order	BBP11BBP12+1
M5-97-488Popular UPC: 888434593141	0.9 in H x 0.9 in W	Cartridge of 280 Labels	$61.99 USD $0.22/label ($22.14/100) $0.27/sq in	1 CTR Standard Order	M510M511
B30C-4000-488Popular UPC: 754473951122	4 in W x 130 ft L	Cartridge of 130 Feet	$200.99 USD $1.55/ft ($0.13/in) $0.03/sq in	1 ROL Standard Order	BBP35BBP37+6
M21-750-488Popular UPC: 662820900061	0.75 in W x 21 ft L	Cartridge of 21 Feet	$32.99 USD $1.57/ft ($0.13/in) $0.17/sq in	1 CTR Standard Order	M210M210-LAB+3
THT-140-488-3Popular UPC: 662820623724	0.9 in H x 0.75 in W	Roll of 3000 Labels	$114.99 USD $0.038/label ($3.83/100) $0.06/sq in	1 ROL Standard Order	BBP81i5100+6
THT-18-488-3Popular UPC: 662820298977	1 in H x 3 in W	Roll of 3000 Labels	$315.99 USD $0.11/label ($10.53/100) $0.04/sq in	1 ROL Standard Order	BBP81i5100+6
B33-194-488Popular UPC: 888434628416	0.75 in H x 0.9 in W	Cartridge of 2000 Labels	$76.99 USD $0.038/label ($3.85/100) $0.06/sq in	1 CTR Standard Order	BBP33i3300+2
THT-141-488-3Popular UPC: 662820623731	0.9 in H x 0.9 in W	Roll of 3000 Labels	$134.99 USD $0.045/label ($4.50/100) $0.06/sq in	1 ROL Standard Order	BBP81i5100+6
THT-5-488-10Popular UPC: 662820298939	0.5 in H x 1 in W	Roll of 10000 Labels	$252.99 USD $0.025/label ($2.53/100) $0.05/sq in	1 ROL Standard Order	BBP81i5100+6
M21-500-488Popular UPC: 662820900054	0.5 in W x 21 ft L	Cartridge of 21 Feet	$30.99 USD $1.48/ft ($0.12/in) $0.25/sq in	1 CTR Standard Order	M210M210-LAB+3
M4-81-488Popular UPC: 888434592014	0.25 in H x 1.9 in W	Cartridge of 160 Labels	$40.59 USD $0.25/label ($25.37/100) $0.53/sq in	1 CTR Standard Order	M410M510+1
THT-17-488-3Popular UPC: 662820298960	1 in H x 2 in W	Roll of 3000 Labels	$218.99 USD $0.073/label ($7.30/100) $0.04/sq in	1 ROL Standard Order	BBP81i5100+6
THT-19-488-1Popular UPC: 662820298984	2 in H x 3 in W	Roll of 1000 Labels	$217.99 USD $0.22/label ($21.80/100) $0.04/sq in	1 ROL Standard Order	BBP81i5100+6
M6-80-488Popular UPC: 888434601709	0.9 in H x 0.75 in W	Roll of 250 Labels	$39.69 USD $0.16/label ($15.88/100) $0.24/sq in	1 ROL Standard Order	M610M611+1
M21-375-488Popular UPC: 662820900047	0.375 in W x 21 ft L	Cartridge of 21 Feet	$29.99 USD $1.43/ft ($0.12/in) $0.32/sq in	1 CTR Standard Order	M210M210-LAB+3

Showing 1 to 15 of 31 parts

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Quality Assurance, Storage & Regulatory Compliance

Standardized engineering guidelines for warehouse storage, application temperature, and agency certifications.

Shelf Life & Warehouse Storage

Expected Shelf Life: 2 Years from receipt

Storage Temperature: Below 80°F (27°C)

Relative Humidity: ≤ 60% RH

Must be stored in original packaging in a climate-controlled warehouse.

Application vs Service Limits

Min Application Temp: 50°F (10°C)

Service Temp Range: -40°C to 160°C (-40°F to 320°F)

Full Cure / Dwell Time: 24 Hours (ASTM D1000)

Clean surface of oil/grease before bonding for maximum peel strength.

Agency Testing & File Directories

UL 969 / 2238: MH17154

UL Directory

CSA C22.2: Not certified

CSA Directory

Environmental & Safety Standards

RoHS 3 Compliance:2011/65/EU (Pass 2015/863)

REACH Status:SVHC Free (<0.1% w/w)

CA Prop 65:Compliant Notice

Certificates of Conformance (CoC) available on order shipment.

ASTM Physical & Mechanical Properties

Standardized laboratory test data measured in accordance with ASTM D 1000, ASTM D 2979, and ASTM D 2671.

Physical Property	Test Method	Standard Test Units (US)	Metric Units (SI)

Thermal Transfer Ribbon Compatibility

Official Brady recommended ribbons engineered for maximum contrast, smear resistance, and UL certification compliance.

Recommended Thermal Transfer

Series R4300

* Note: Testing print permanence with official Brady ribbons is required to maintain UL/CSA agency certification on printed labels.

Chemical & Solvent Resistance Matrix

Standardized dip and rub immersion test observations across industrial fuels, oils, solvents, and cleaners.

Tested per ASTM D 895 / Brady standard dip & rub immersion.

Chemical Reagent / Solvent	Substrate / Adhesive Effect	Thermal Ribbon Permanence
Methyl Ethyl Ketone	Tested	Tested
Toluene	Tested	Tested
Isopropyl Alcohol	Tested	Tested
Mineral Spirits	Tested	Tested
JP-8 Jet Fuel	Tested	Tested
ASTM #3 Oil	Tested	Tested
Mil 5606 Oil	Tested	Tested
Skydrol® 500B-4	Tested	Tested
Super Agitene®	Tested	Tested
Deionized Water	Tested	Tested
3% Alconox® Detergent	Tested	Tested
10% Sodium Hydroxide Solution	Tested	Tested
10% Sulfuric Acid Solution	Tested	Tested

Environmental & Aging Durability Testing

Environmental Exposure Condition	Observation & Legibility Result
Service temperature	-40 to 160 °C

Verified Target Applications & Use Cases

Industrial rating plates, asset identification, and electrical component labeling.

Brady B-488 Frequently Asked Questions & Engineering Guide

Verified technical answers on physical adhesion, temperature thresholds, ribbon pairings, and replacement standards for B-488.

Brady B-488 is a high-performance Polyester designed specifically for rating plates, asset tags, and industrial equipment identification. It features a Permanent acrylic engineered for long-term industrial reliability in environments requiring -40°C to 160°C (-40°F to 320°F) performance.

Brady B-488 is rated for continuous service temperatures from -40°C to 160°C (-40°F to 320°F). In laboratory heat-aging tests, it maintains dimensional stability and barcode contrast across broad thermal cycles.

Need Custom Engineering Validation for Brady B-488?

Calculate conductor sizing, check chemical resistance charts, or find matching thermal transfer ribbons.

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