Non-transparent microvoided axially stretched film, production process therefor and process for obtaining a transparent pattern therewith

Abstract

A film consisting essentially of a continuous phase linear polyester matrix having dispersed therein a non-crosslinked random SAN-polymer and dispersed or dissolved therein at least one ingredient from the group of ingredients consisting of inorganic opacifying pigments, whitening agents, colorants, UV-absorbers, light stabilizers, antioxidants and flame retardants, wherein the film is white, microvoided, non-transparent and axially stretched; the linear polyester matrix has monomer units consisting essentially of at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid, at least one aliphatic diol and optionally at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid; and the weight ratio of the linear polyester to the non-crosslinked SAN-polymer is in the range of 2.0:1 to 19.0:1, wherein one of the said at least one aliphatic dimethylene monomer units is selected from the group consisting of neopentylene and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene in a concentration of 30 mole % or less of all aliphatic dimethylene monomer units; the use of the film as or in synthetic paper; an image recording element comprising the film; a process for the preparing of the non-transparent microvoided axially stretched film; and a process for obtaining a transparent pattern therewith.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 908,526 filed Mar. 28, 2007, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 908,536 filed Mar. 28, 2007, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 908,542 filed Mar. 28, 2007, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 908,545 filed Mar. 28, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 975,300 filed Sep. 26, 2007, which are all incorporated by reference. In addition, this application claims the benefit of European Application No. 07104953.0 filed Mar. 28, 2008, European Application No. 07104947.2 filed Mar. 28, 2007, European Application No. EP 07104948.0 filed Mar. 28, 2007, European Application No. 07104950.6 filed Mar. 28, 2007, PCT Application No. PCT / EP07 / 060,359 filed Oct. 1, 2007, PCT / EP07 / 060,218 filed Sep. 26, 2007, PCT / EP07 / 060,380 filed Oct. 1, 2007 and PCT / EP07 / 060,373 filed Oct. 1, 2007, which are all also incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The pres...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]It has been surprisingly found that addition of small quantities of an opacifying inorganic pigment enables the thermal fixation (setting) process necessary to realize acceptable dimensional stability to be carried out at lower temperatures, which surprisingly results in a loss in opacity during thermal fixation, which is substantially lower than that occurring at the higher thermal fixation temperatures, which would otherwise be necessary. It has also been surprisingly found that opacity is promoted by using lower temperatures than conventionally used during stretching and in particular by using lower temperatures than conventionally used with polyethylene terephthalate-SAN-polymer blends during transversal stretching and by adjusting the polyester matrix composition to make this realizable.

Problems solved by technology

It has been surprisingly found that addition of small quantities of an opacifying inorganic pigment enables the thermal fixation (setting) process necessary to realize acceptable dimensional stability to be carried out at lower temperatures, which surprisingly results in a loss in opacity during thermal fixation, which is substantially lower than that occurring at the higher thermal fixation temperatures, which would otherwise be necessary.