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Non-chemical thermally printable film

a non-chemical, thermally printable technology, applied in the direction of thermography, other domestic articles, synthetic resin layered products, etc., to achieve the effect of durable and resistant to fading

Inactive Publication Date: 2015-04-30
TORAY PLASTICS (AMERICA) INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a way to create a label film that can be used for thermal printing. The film has tiny voids that change from opaque to transparent when heated, allowing for the creation of images and characters. The film is made using a special nucleating agent and a beta-crystalline nucleating agent for polypropylene. The resulting film is strong and durable, with the voids enhancing the printability. The film can also be combined with other layers for added contrast or to improve bonding. The method is safe and complies with FDA packaging standards. The technical effects of this patent are a more durable and resistant label that can be used in various environmental conditions.

Problems solved by technology

Polypropylene is not known for its resistance to sunlight but a short exposure of a few days or even up to a year, would not be expected to have any effect on the film's imagery after thermal printing.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

example 1

[0057]A two-layer mono-axially oriented film (MOPP) was made using a monoaxial orientation process with two distinct coextruded layers. The two layers comprised a black pigmented layer B and a white opaque beta-crystalline nucleated layer A and the laminate film appeared dark colored on one side (layer A) and light colored on the opposite side (layer A) after orientation. Layer A was composed of about 98.2 wt % of an impact propylene copolymer Braskem TI4015F and about 1.8 wt % of a betacrystalline nucleating masterbatch Mayzo MPM1112. Layer B was composed of about 94 wt % Braskem TI4015F and about 6 wt % of a carbon black pigment masterbatch Ampacet 191114. The coextruded film substrate was made via co-extrusion through a die, cast on a temperature controlled drum at 104° C., oriented in the machine direction through a series of heated and differentially sped rolls at various orientation draw ratios (MDX) of about 4:1. Once oriented the clear layer B appeared whitish and opaque due...

example 2

[0058]Example 1 was substantially repeated except that the amount of Mayzo MPMIII2 beta-nucleating masterbatch was about 2.2 wt % and about 97.8 wt % Braskem TI4015F in layer A.

example 3

[0059]Example 1 was substantially repeated except that the amount of Mayzo MPMIII2 beta-nucleating masterbatch was about 1.2 wt % and about 98.8 wt % Braskem TI4015F in layer A; the amount of carbon black Ampacet 191114 was about 9 wt % and about 91 wt % Braskem TI4015F in layer B; and the overall thickness was about 100 μm with the A layer about 90 μm and the B layer about 10 μm.

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Abstract

A two-layer mono-axially oriented film includes a first layer of an opaque beta-nucleated microvoided propylene-based polymer; and a second layer containing a dark pigment that is adapted for use in a thermal printer in which the thermal print-head contacts the exposed surface of the first layer. The dark pigment of the second layer pigment has a color contrasting with the color of the first layer and can contain a carbon black. The first layer includes microvoids and may be made transparent upon the application of heat by collapsing the voids of the first layer or upon the application of ultra-sonic energy.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the priority of U.S. application Ser. No. 13 / 857,374 filed Apr. 5, 2013, which claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 621,173, filed Apr. 6, 2012.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to an oriented propylene-based film which exhibits an appearance change when subjected to heat that does not involve any chemical change. This film is well-suited as a label film that can be activated by a thermal print-head to provide custom information. This invention provides a visual change based on a nonreversible physical change in the film, obviating the need for chemical reactive coatings or at least minimizing the amount of coating used. Another feature of this invention is that it is not limited to a black-and-white color contrast for images or graphics. Activation can also be accomplished by ultrasonic means.[0003]This film is suitable as an “on-demand” label film for custom labeling, bar-code printin...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B32B27/20B32B27/32B29C71/02B29C47/04B29C47/06B29C48/17B29C48/21
CPCB32B27/205B32B2307/75B29C47/065B29C71/02B32B27/20B32B27/32B29K2023/12B29K2105/0032B29K2105/0005B29L2007/008B29L2009/00B32B2250/02B32B2519/00B32B2307/4026B32B2307/518B29C47/043B32B2250/242B32B2307/516Y10T428/249953Y10T428/24998Y10T428/249978Y10T428/24996Y10T428/31938Y10T428/249958Y10T428/249982Y10T428/24901B29C48/17B29C48/21B41M5/36B32B3/26B32B27/08B32B2307/41B32B2307/412
Inventor BROWN, MATTHEW H.KOEHN, HAROLD E.COLETTA, EMILIO
Owner TORAY PLASTICS (AMERICA) INC
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