INTRODUCTION TO RFID
What are RFID tags made of?
Generally speaking, RFID tags are essentially made of a chip, an antenna and a support/encasement.
The integrated chip (or IC) can contain several kinds of memory and takes care of all tag’s activities such as modulating and demodulating the signal and other specialized operations. The antenna allows signal transmission. The supports/encasements can be made of a wide variety of materials and take different shapes in order to meet an extremely large range of application requirements.
From the supports/encasements point of view, RFID tags are on VeryFields classified according to the following categories:
• Dry inlays: These are made of an antenna and an IC usually on a thin plastic support. Dry inlays are semi-finished products that can be converted into RFID labels, RFID tickets, RFID badges or can be embedded into different materials to fulfill many specific requirements. Dry inlays are delivered in continuous reel.
• Wet inlays: As with dry inlays, these are delivered in reel but have die cuts and feature adhesive on their back side.
• Labels: These are usually delivered in die cut reel, have adhesive on their back and a paper or other printable material layer on the front side for being printed. In the VeryFields Database, the term “Label” is used for labels which are not designed for heavy duty use, to withstand chemical and environmental agents, which cannot be attached directly to metal surfaces, have not particular distinctive characteristics such as anti-tampering.
• Special labels: These are labels that, thanks to their specific design, offer particular features such as anti-tampering and waterproof resistance, they are suitable for being used in harsh environments or being directly attached onto metal surfaces.
• Tickets/Badges: RFID-enabled tickets and RFID-enabled badges that are commonly used in access control, ticketing, e-payment and loyalty program applications.
• Hard tags: These have a rigid encasement to withstand several chemical and environmental agents and mechanical stresses. They are often designed for being directly attached to metal surfaces.
• Special tags: They differ from hard tags for their flexibility or their particular attachment method.
• Wristbands: RFID-enabled wristbands, bracelets.
• Keyfobs: RFID-enabled keyfobs.