Durablack: A durable material for CO2 laser engraving

5. Juli 2023 •

What is DuraBlack?

Designed for CO2 laser engraving, DuraBlack is an anodised aluminium that is ideal for creating durable, on-demand markings for harsh operating environments. DuraBlack features a protective urethane top coating which makes the material suitable for applications in harsh environments, such as salt water, chemicals and hot temperatures, whilst also being resistant to sunlight (UV_radiation), abrasions and more.

In side-by-side tests, DuraBlack outperforms black anodised aluminium and laser markable acrylic tape in select applications. Thanks to its ability to perform across a range of challenging environments, DuraBlack meets several government, industrial and military specifications including MIL-STD 130N, A-A-50271 (≈MIL-P-514D) and MIL-STD-15024F, Type L. Composed of a multi-level coating available upon 0.005” or 0.020” thick aluminium, DuraBlack can be attached to either curved or flat surfaces with adhesive, rivets or screws. Any CO2 laser marking system can produce a durable, high-resolution barcode or human-readable image.

Read on to find out more benefits of the material.

Discover Durablack

Product benefits

Durable Performance

DuraBlack meets Item Unique Identification (UID) military bar code performance standards for many applications
Resistant to weather/UV, abrasion, high-temperatures, salt-spray and fluid exposure
Produces durable, high-resolution barcodes or human-readable images
Integrated abrasion resistant coating reduces the need to apply a protective topcoat
Matt finish reduces reflection for combat situations

Easy Processing

Easy to laser engrave and mark to produce “A” verification grade labels with any CO₂ laser engraver or marker
Aluminium backing eliminates potential damage from over-marking

Flexible Attachment Options

Attachment options include 3M-467 mp high-performance adhesive, rivets or screws
Available in 0.5mm thickness for flat surfaces
Available in pre-cut blanks so all you need to do is mark and apply

Durability Characteristics	Application/Environment	DuraBlack Performance
	Outdoor Exposure	5000 hrs of accelerated UV/weather with Q-Sun XE-3/HS (Estimated 8-10 years)
	Abrasive Environments	4000 cycles on a Taber Abraser, CS17 with 1Kg wheel load
	High-Temperature Environments	700°F for one hour
	Marine Environments	30 days of salt fog exposure as per ASTM B117
	Corrosive/Chemical Environments	96 hrs in MIL-STD-810G chemicals and several others
Attachment Options	Flexible Attachment Options	3M high-performance adhesive or rivets – your choice
	Flexible 0.005” Thickness	Adheres to curved surfaces
	Available in Pre-cut Blanks	Contact an independent converter to outsource your fabrication
Easy Processing	Forgivable Laser Settings	Easy to process and produce “A” verification grade labels
	Anodised Aluminium Backing	Reduces damage from over-marking
	Matt Finish	Reduces reflection for combat situations

Material Specifications

Sizes: 508 x 609 mm
Thicknesses: 0.5mm
Attachment Options: 3M-476mp Series High-Performance Adhesive or Mechanical (rivets).

*If colour consistency is important, we recommend purchasing material from the same lot.

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