The microporous matrix of TESLIN® substrate, combined with its unique performance characteristics, provides built-in security features that protect and help ensure the integrity of secure credentials and documents, e-Passports, labels and other applications. They include:
- “Locked-in” data for secure protection – Teslin substrate absorbs ink and toners and locks them into its surface almost instantaneously. Printed text, bar codes, graphics and other critical data cannot be scratched off without damaging the material itself. Other synthetics rely on coatings to adhere inks and toners to their smooth surfaces. Teslin substrate does so without laminates and protective coatings, which enables it to be tamper-resistant and tamper-evident without additional enhancement.
- Exceptional lamination strength – As with inks and toners, lamination films flow into the pores of Teslin substrate, creating powerful mechanical bonds that resist delamination up to 10 times stronger than other synthetic materials. In fact, documents, cards, tags and labels fabricated with laminated Teslin substrate will permanently distort when counterfeiters try to alter them, which helps further ensure their authenticity.
- High-definition print for color imaging – Teslin substrate accommodates precision printing of text, bar codes, QR codes, microprint text, color photos and other security data more effectively than other synthetic substrates that only allow inks and toners to rest on their surfaces. Teslin substrate is also compatible with a wide range of security print technologies, including offset, digital and laser printing.
- Customizable for authenticable security applications – Teslin substrate can be formulated with security features during manufacture and delivered through an exclusive, secure supply chain. This Teslin Security-Grade product can also be made program-specific to enhance traceability to and authentication by individual security program operators and/or organizations. The visual effects that result from incorporating program-specific security features into the structure of Teslin substrate can make it easier to identify credentials counterfeited through printing, coating or other post-manufacturing methods.
- Difficult to replicate – While the Teslin substrate performance features listed above make credentials more difficult to counterfeit, there are two additional ways to enhance their security. The first is to layer secure documents with Teslin substrate in combination with other substrate materials such as polycarbonate (PC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PET-G). The other is to produce credentials using Teslin Security-Grade substrate embedded with customized security markers that can only be traced to and authenticated by the credentialing organization to which it was sold. When combined, these two strategies deter counterfeiters by demanding significant investments in capital, time and skill, and by incorporating substrate materials that are not readily available to them on the open marketplace.
