Zhanfeng smart card "core" materials: How do these "invisible heroes" support the hard power of smart cards?​

The hotel room card, mobile phone SIM card, and membership value card in your hand seem to be just a thin plastic piece, but there are a lot of "black technology" hidden in its "body" - from the core substrate that determines durability to the coating process that affects the printing effect, the choice of each raw material directly affects the final experience of the smart card. As an "old craftsman" who has been focusing on the field of smart cards for 18 years, choosing materials for Zhanfeng smart cards is like choosing ingredients. It must be "nutritious and hard-core" and "super considerate taste". Today, we will disassemble the "raw material treasure box" of Zhanfeng smart card and see how these "invisible heroes" empower each card!

1. The "skeleton" of smart cards: only if the base material is selected well can the cards be reliable

The "body" of a smart card is mainly composed of a substrate, which determines the hardness, toughness, wear resistance, and even environmental protection of the card. The commonly used substrates for Zhanfeng smart cards are mainly four categories: PVC, PET, PC-ABS and special paper. Each material has a unique "character" and is suitable for different usage scenarios.

-PVC: Classic but gradually “retired” veteran

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) was once the "top-the-line substrate" in the field of smart cards, especially IC cards (such as early phone cards and access control cards). It is divided into two types: hard PVC and soft PVC:

• Hard PVC: The strength is close to engineering plastic, and the surface hardness, tensile strength and stiffness are excellent. It is suitable for cards that require certain structural support (such as IC cards with chips); but the disadvantages are also obvious - they are easy to become brittle at low temperatures, cannot recover after deformation, and harmful HCl gas will be released at high temperatures (poor environmental protection). 

• Soft PVC: Soft texture, often used in wallpaper, floor and other scenarios, but there are also problems such as hardening at low temperatures and poor thermal stability, and insufficient environmental protection (which will also release harmful substances).

-PET: The "good" of high-end cards

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is one of the substrates that Zhanfeng smart card mainly promotes for high-end customers! Its original state is not perfect – the surface is not smooth enough, and the direct printing or hot pressing bonding is poor, but after special surface treatment, PET can show amazing advantages:

✅ wear resistance and corrosion resistance: It is not easy to scratch for a long time, has excellent waterproof and oil resistance, and is suitable for high-frequency use scenarios (such as hotel room cards and transportation cards); 

✅ strong printing adaptability: The treated surface can make the ink stick firmer, have high color reduction, and have a long-term clear LOGO and pattern;

✅ Environmental safety: No release of harmful substances, and comply with international environmental standards.

(Zhanfeng's high-end customized cards, such as brand co-branded cards with luminous effects, and membership cards with metal texture, are mostly made of PET substrates, which are both durable and high-end!)

-PC-ABS: A niche but powerful "all-rounder"

PC-ABS is an alloy material of PC (polycarbonate) and ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer), combining the advantages of both: it has the ease of processability of ABS (easy to mold), and the high mechanical strength of PC (impact resistance and high temperature resistance), high surface hardness, good toughness, and strong stress cracking resistance. However, due to the high cost and complex processing technology, it is currently used relatively little, and is mainly used in special scenarios with extremely high security requirements (such as financial crypto cards).

-Special paper: "New Choice" for Environmental Protection and Creativity

Zhanfeng also introduced high-end special papers abroad - such as TESLIN composite paper from the United States. It's not ordinary paper! Consisting of polyolefin and SiO₂ (silica), it combines "thin and thin paper" and "toughness of plastic", including:

✔ Porous structure: uniform ink penetration, fuller printing color; 

✔ High fillability: can be embedded in chips or magnetic strips without falling off easily; 

✔ High waterproof and high adsorption: It is not easy to deform when exposed to water, and is suitable for cards that require special touch (such as cultural and creative theme cards, environmental commemorative cards).

（For customers who pursue natural texture and need basic functionality, TESLIN composite paper is a good choice to balance creativity and practicality~)

2. Zhanfeng’s “material selection philosophy”: good materials + good craftsmanship = more reliable cards

As a smart card manufacturer that has served large customers such as China Telecom and China Mobile, Zhanfeng never "will settle" on materials selection. For 18 years, we have adhered to the principle of "scene adaptation + quality priority":

• If customers need low-cost basic cards (such as temporary access card), we will recommend environmentally improved PVC solutions; 

• If customers pursue high-end durability (such as hotel room cards, brand joint cards), PET substrates must be the first choice; 

• If customers want special touch or environmentally friendly attributes (such as cultural and creative gift cards), TESLIN composite paper or special process PET can "come on the stage".

More importantly, Zhanfeng not only provides raw materials, but also customizes "material combination solutions" according to customer needs - such as adding wear-resistant coatings on PET substrates, or embeding color chips in PVC cards, making each card impeccable from "inside" to "face".

3. Why choose Zhanfeng? Only make "reliable cards" in 18 years

As an "old expert" in the smart card industry, Zhanfeng Smart Card Co., Ltd. has proved one thing in 18 years: Behind a good card is the strict screening of every raw material and the desperate struggle of every craft details. we are:

• Partners trusted by major customers: long-term smart card solutions for leading companies such as China Telecom, China Railway Communications, and China Mobile, and their products are exported to more than 30 countries and regions around the world; 

• Manufacturers with deep technology accumulation: familiar with the characteristics of each substrate and can customize the most suitable material solutions according to different scenarios (communications, hotels, retail, security); 

• "Palipotence" of details: From substrate thickness to surface treatment process, from environmental protection indicators to durability testing, each level is strictly checked to ensure that every card delivered can stand the test of time.

Conclusion: The next card that you can’t put down may be hidden in Zhanfeng’s material library!

Next time you pick up a smart card (maybe a hotel room card, membership card, or even a child’s campus card), you might as well think about it: how strong its “bone” is? How wear-resistant is its "skin"? Zhanfeng smart card is the master behind choosing the "best body" for each card.

If you are looking for a smart card supplier who understands materials, craftsmanship, and better understands customer needs, Zhanfeng is definitely your best choice! Whether it is classic PVC, high-end PET, or special special paper, we can "tailor" for you, so that every card can not only be "usable", but also "easy", "durable" and "good"!