A label applied outdoors — on a vehicle chassis, shipping packaging, or any surface exposed to the elements — faces a test that an indoor label never has to endure: the environment. Sun, rain, temperature variations, and cleaning products are what truly determine whether a material is durable or not.
The main degradation factors
Water and moisture. The adhesion needs to remain stable even in humid environments or after direct exposure to rain, without peeling at the edges or losing adhesion over time.
Temperature. The material needs to maintain performance in both extreme heat — such as a sun-exposed vehicle yard — and intense cold, without drying out, cracking, or losing color.
Solar radiation (UV). Prolonged sun exposure is one of the main causes of ink and adhesive degradation. A low-quality label fades and loses legibility in just a few months of direct sunlight.
Chemicals. Solvents, automotive cleaning products, and fuels must not compromise the adhesion or readability of the label—a critical point for labels applied to vehicles, which are frequently washed.
Abrasion. Everyday friction, handling, and contact with other surfaces should not erase the print or cause the material to peel off.
How to truly validate resistance
Claims of durability in a product's sales data sheet are no substitute for technical testing. The correct approach is to request test reports that prove each of these points separately—water, temperature, UV, chemicals, and abrasion—not just a generic statement of “high durability.”
How VIN Brasil tests its labels
VIN Brasil's ETA (Self-Adhesive Label) undergoes tests that specifically cover these five factors, in addition to fragmentation upon attempted removal — the same security and resistance criteria required by CONTRAN Resolution 968/2022 for automotive use.