ASTM D1308 / D543 Chemical Test ReportFormula: Glycol Ether / Borate Ester
Brake Fluid (DOT 3 / DOT 4 / DOT 5.1) Resistance: Brady Material Ratings
Automotive master cylinders, brake caliper lines, ABS hydraulic modules. This engineering guide provides empirical laboratory test ratings for 28 Brady materials evaluated against Brake Fluid (DOT 3 / DOT 4 / DOT 5.1) for print permanence and adhesive adhesion.
Group
Automotive & Heavy Equipment
Hazard
Aggressive Paint-Stripping Fluid
Tested
28 Materials
Sponsored Brake Fluid (DOT 3 / DOT 4 / DOT 5.1) Resistant Materials
Industrial Label Printers & Materials
Relevant Technical Equipment & Consumables [Ad Slot chem-brake-fluid-dot3-dot4]
Standard Laboratory Test Protocol
Brady chemical immersion testing follows strict standardized procedures:
- Immersion Cycles: 5 cycles consisting of 10-minute soaks in Brake Fluid (DOT 3 / DOT 4 / DOT 5.1) followed by 30-minute recovery periods at 22°C (72°F).
- Rub Test: Following final immersion, printed legends are rubbed with a cotton swab saturated in Brake Fluid (DOT 3 / DOT 4 / DOT 5.1) for 10–20 double rubs under ~1 lb of downward force.
- Adhesive Inspection: Evaluated for edge lift, adhesive softening, ooze, or dissolution from stainless steel panels.
Thermal Ribbon Chemistry Importance
Face stocks like polyester and polyimide resist Brake Fluid (DOT 3 / DOT 4 / DOT 5.1), but standard wax/resin ribbons will smear or dissolve instantly upon contact.
Required Formulation: Pure Resin (Series R6000HF / R6600)
Thermoset resin formulations crosslink under high printhead heat, creating a solvent-impermeable matrix that withstands aggressive wipe-downs.
Laboratory Test Results Table: Brake Fluid (DOT 3 / DOT 4 / DOT 5.1)
Showing 28 tested materials ranked by solvent survivability score.
| B-Number | Survivability Rating | Substrate & Adhesive Effect | Required Ribbon | Operating Limits | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-117 B-117 TRANSLUCENT VINYL TAPE Translucent vinyl | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | Series R6000HF | Standard Industrial | Full Specs |
| B-417 Thermal Transfer Printable Translucent Vinyl Tape Translucent vinyl, provided in a self-laminated format with a white printable zone and a translucent overlaminating area, with a permanent acrylic adhesive | Excellent (No Effect) | No visible effect | R4300 | -70.0°C to 70.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-421 B-421 MATTE BLACK LASER MARKABLE POLYESTER LABEL STOCK Topcoated 2.0 mil polyester film | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | Series R6000HF | Standard Industrial | Full Specs |
| B-423 BradyBondz(TM) Thermal Transfer Printable Glossy White Polyester Label Stock White polyester with a glossy white finish and a permanent acrylic adhesive, printed by thermal transfer | Excellent (No Effect) | No visible effect | R4400 | -70.0°C to 110.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-423Y BradyBondz(TM) Thermal Transfer Printable Glossy Yellow Polyester Label Stock Polyester with a glossy yellow finish and a permanent acrylic adhesive, printed by thermal transfer | Excellent (No Effect) | No visible effect | R6000 Halogen Free | -70.0°C to 110.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-425A B-425A THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTABLE POLYPROPYLENE LABEL STOCK White polypropylene | Excellent (No Effect) | No visible effect | R4300 | -40.0°C to 160.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-425D Thermal Transfer Printable Polypropylene Label Stock White polypropylene | Excellent (No Effect) | No visible effect | Series R6000HF | Standard Industrial | Full Specs |
| B-427 Thermal Transfer Printable Translucent Vinyl Tape Translucent vinyl, provided in a self-laminated format with a white printable zone and a translucent overlaminating area, with a permanent acrylic adhesive, printed by thermal transfer | Excellent (No Effect) | No visible effect | R4300 | -70.0°C to 70.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-430 BRADYBONDZ™ B -430 THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTABLE GLOSSY CLEAR POLYESTER LABEL STOCK Clear polyester | Excellent (No Effect) | No visible effect | R4400 | 70.0°C to 100.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-480A BRADYBONDZâ„¢ B-480A THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTABLE LIGHT GRAY POLYESTER LABEL STOCK WITH RUBBER BASED ADHESIVE Top coated polyester | Excellent (No Effect) | No visible effect | Series R6000HF | Standard Industrial | Full Specs |
| B-521 THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTABLE GLOSSY CLEAR POLYPROPYLENE LABEL STOCK Clear polypropylene | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | Series R6000HF | -70.0°C to 100.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-522 THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTABLE GLOSSY CLEAR POLYESTER LABEL STOCK Clear Polyester | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | R6000 Halogen Free | Standard Industrial | Full Specs |
| B-533 B- 533 THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTABLE GLOSSY WHITE POLYESTER LABEL STOCK White Polyester | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | R4400 | -94.0°C to 200.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-711 ONE STEP PROTECT™ BACKSIDE PRINTED CLEAR POLYESTER LABEL WITH CLEAR BORDER Polyester | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | R4400 | -80°C to 100.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-712 ONE STEP PROTECT™ BACKSIDE PRINTED CLEAR POLYESTER LABEL WITH WHITE BORDER Polyester | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | R4400 | -80°C to 100.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-7470 B-7470 BLACK THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTABLE POLYPROPYLENE Polypropylene | Excellent (No Effect) | No Visible Effect | R4400 | -40.0°C to 130.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-7514 THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTABLE GLOSSY WHITE POLYESTER LABEL STOCK WITH A HIGH STRENGTH PERMANENT ADHESIVE Polyester | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | Series R6000HF | -40.0°C to 150.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-7552 Thermal Transfer Printable Glossy Clear Polyester Label Stock Clear polyester | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | Series R6000HF | -80.0°C to 145.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-7642 PermaSleeve® Marker Heat shrinkable (2:1) polyolefin sleeves | Excellent (No Effect) | 1 | R4300 | -55°C to 240°C | Full Specs |
| B-8117 MATTE BLACK LABEL STOCK Polyester | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | R6800 | Standard Industrial | Full Specs |
| B-8591 WEATHER RESISTANT LABEL STOCK PolyesterFinish:GlossAdhesive:Permanent acrylic | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | R122 | -70°C to 110.0°C | Full Specs |
| L-2588-26C L-2588-26C UHF RFID Label Technical Substrate | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | Series R6000HF | -40.0°C to 85.0°C | Full Specs |
| L-2588-32A L-2588-32A UHF Moisture Label B-423 - White Polyester | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | Series R6000HF | -40.0°C to 85.0°C | Full Specs |
| L-2588-40A L-2588-40A UHF Flag Label White polypropylene | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | Series R6000HF | -40.0°C to 85.0°C | Full Specs |
| L-2588-43A L-2588-43A MEDIUM UHF RFID ON-METAL LABEL Polyester | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | Series R6000HF | -40.0°C to 85.0°C | Full Specs |
| L-2588-56A L-2588-56A MEDIUM UHF RFID LABEL PET (Face), B-423 - White Polyester (Tag base material) | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | Series R6000HF | -40.0°C to 85.0°C | Full Specs |
| L-2588-56B L-2588-56B LARGE UHF RFID LABEL Technical Substrate | Excellent (No Effect) | Tested | Series R6000HF | -40.0°C to 85.0°C | Full Specs |
| B-498 Thermal Transfer Printable, Repositionable Coated Vinyl Cloth Label Stock Coated Vinyl Cloth | Moderate | Slight unwrap | R4300 | -40.0°C to 80°C | Full Specs |
Orderable SKUs for Brake Fluid (DOT 3 / DOT 4 / DOT 5.1) Environments
Standard catalog rolls, Grainger part numbers, dimensions, and list prices for high-survivability materials.
WRAP-5-417
Wraptor Self Lam Vinyl Wire and Cable Labels 2.5in H x 1.5in W WT/CL 2200/RL
Dimensions: 2.5 in H x 1.5 in W • Roll of 2200 Labels
$517.99 USD
$0.24/labelWRAP-4-417
Wraptor Self Lam Vinyl Wire and Cable Labels 1.5in H x 1in W WT/CL 3600/RL
Dimensions: 1.5 in H x 1 in W • Roll of 3600 Labels
$367.99 USD
$0.10/labelFrequently Asked Questions: Brake Fluid (DOT 3 / DOT 4 / DOT 5.1) Resistance
Q: Why does standard vinyl (like B-595) soften or wrinkle when exposed to Brake Fluid (DOT 3 / DOT 4 / DOT 5.1)?
Vinyl (PVC) polymers contain plasticizers that make the film pliable. Aggressive organic solvents like Brake Fluid (DOT 3 / DOT 4 / DOT 5.1) extract plasticizers from the vinyl matrix, causing the film to swell, wrinkle, and soften the underlying acrylic adhesive. For heavy solvent contact, polyester (B-423) or polyimide (B-652) are recommended.
Q: What is the difference between an immersion rating and a wipe-down rub test?
A wipe-down test simulates routine machine cleaning with a saturated rag for 10–20 rubs. An immersion test submerges the label directly into Brake Fluid (DOT 3 / DOT 4 / DOT 5.1) for 5 cycles of 10 minutes. Many materials survive wipe-downs without degradation, but continuous total immersion requires specialized crosslinked resin ribbons and chemical-resistant face stocks.