What is a silicone HD heat transfer?

Silicone HD (High Density) is a moulded silicone-rubber badge applied by heat press. The badge is manufactured off-garment, then bonded onto the jersey at 150–160°C for 15–20 seconds. It produces the raised 3D look used by top-tier professional kits for sponsor logos and league emblems.

TPU vs flock — how do I choose?

TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is a thin, flexible film used for player numbers and thin-line graphics — it flexes with stretch fabric and has a smooth semi-matte finish. Flock is a raised, velvet-like textile transfer used for retail letter numbering and heritage-look prints where a soft, tactile finish is required.

What temperature and dwell time should I use?

Silicone HD: 150–160°C, 15–20 seconds, 40–50 PSI. TPU film: 140–150°C, 10–15 seconds, 30–40 PSI. Flock: 150–165°C, 12–15 seconds, 30–40 PSI. Always follow the transfer supplier's technical datasheet — mismatched temperature is the number one cause of edge lifting after wash.

Are heat-transfer badges durable for match wear?

Professional-grade silicone and TPU transfers survive 50+ wash cycles and full match cycles without cracking or delamination. Retail-grade flock lasts 30–40 washes cleanly. Failure almost always traces back to application error (wrong temp, wrong dwell, insufficient pressure) rather than the material itself.

Decoration · Sportswear Encyclopedia

Heat-Transfer Badges & Numbers

Three families of heat-applied decoration dominate professional kit — silicone HD for premium 3D badges, TPU film for player numbers and sponsor typography, and flock for retail heritage numbering. Same press, three different materials, three different jobs.

Silicone HD

150–160°C

3D moulded logos

TPU film

140–150°C

Numbers, thin graphics

Flock

150–165°C

Velvet retail look

Life

50+ washes

Pro-grade transfers

Silicone HD — the professional sponsor and league badge

Manufactured off-garment as a moulded liquid-silicone-rubber (LSR) badge on a release carrier film. Comes to the kit line pre-produced, ready to press.
Delivers the raised, glossy 3D look seen on top-tier professional kits for sponsor logos and league emblems.
Pressed at 150–160°C for 15–20 seconds at 40–50 PSI. Cold peel after 30 seconds of dwell.
Excellent stretch tolerance because LSR is naturally elastic — stays bonded to compression stretch panels.
Higher piece cost than TPU or flock, so used only for headline branding elements where the 3D finish justifies the premium.

TPU film — the workhorse for numbers and typography

Cut from thin (~150–200 micron) polyurethane film using a plotter. Weeded on a carrier sheet then heat-applied.
Standard choice for player names, player numbers, sleeve numbers and thin-line sponsor typography.
Semi-matte finish is match-camera-friendly (no reflection glare). Gloss and metallic TPU films also available.
Pressed at 140–150°C for 10–15 seconds. Warm or cold peel depending on the film type.
Flexes with stretch fabric better than plastisol screen print. Preferred over screen print for pro-kit numbering since roughly 2015.

Flock — retail heritage numbering

Short polyester or nylon fibres bonded upright to a carrier adhesive, giving a raised velvet-like texture.
Standard for retail replica kits where the block-shadow, tactile numbering is part of the aesthetic.
Available in single-colour or two-tone shadow-cut form for shirt-back numbering.
Pressed at 150–165°C for 12–15 seconds. Peel warm.
Slightly less abrasion-resistant than TPU under repeated match wear. Ideal for retail replicas, less common on professional match jerseys.

Selection matrix — pick by requirement

Element	Best material	Why
Main sponsor logo (pro kit)	Silicone HD	3D lift, glossy finish, stretch-tolerant
League / competition badge	Silicone HD	Rights-holder-mandated 3D specification
Player name & back number	TPU film	Thin, flexible, camera-friendly
Sleeve number / captain armband	TPU film	Sits flat on curved sleeve panel
Retail replica numbering	Flock	Heritage tactile look
Small secondary sponsor	TPU film	Cost-efficient at low relief

Application pitfalls that ruin badges

Wrong temperature — under-heat and adhesive doesn't wet the fabric; over-heat and film scorches or yellows.
Insufficient pressure — heat presses need genuine 40–50 PSI, not just contact. Under-pressure = edges lift after wash 3.
Pressing over a seam — the seam ridge creates a pocket under the badge that adhesive cannot fill. Always press on flat single-layer fabric.
Wrong peel timing — cold-peel films peeled hot will delaminate. Follow the supplier datasheet exactly.
Not pre-pressing the jersey — moisture in the fabric turns to steam under the badge and blows a bubble. Pre-press 5 seconds before applying transfer.

Spec your kit badge programme

Send us your artwork, kit design and league badge specification — we'll recommend silicone HD, TPU or flock per element and prepare strike-off samples for approval.

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