Coextruded Foil for Data Carrier Cards
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacture of data carrier cards with areas of different material properties requires separate processing steps, making the process elaborate and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The use of coextruded foils with multiple layers, where at least one foil is coextruded to create areas with different material properties, allowing for the formation of surface areas with varying properties without additional processing steps, and optionally combining these with foils of uniform material for increased stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If separate processing steps are used to create areas with different material properties, then the material properties can be differentiated, but the manufacturing process becomes elaborate and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple processing steps into a single coextrusion process, where different polymeric melt streams are joined together to create foils with areas of different material properties in one continuous operation, eliminating the need for separate printing or post-processing steps
Solution Approach 2:
The different material properties are incorporated into the foil structure during the extrusion process itself, before the foil is formed and cut into cards. This preliminary creation of material property variations eliminates the need for subsequent processing steps to differentiate areas
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate processing steps are used, then areas with different properties can be formed, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite material structures created through coextrusion, where multiple polymeric melt streams with different compositions are joined together to form a single foil with heterogeneous material properties in different areas, achieving versatility without additional processing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The coextrusion process enables different local areas of the foil to have different material properties (such as different colors, transparencies, or material compositions) directly during manufacturing, with each area's properties determined by the specific melt stream composition and flow rate used in that region
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method simplifies the production of data carrier cards by eliminating the need for separate processing steps, enhancing stability, and enabling the creation of cards with specific optical and mechanical properties, such as transparency, elasticity, and polarization effects.
Implementation Method 1
at least two polymeric melt streams with different composition are joined to thereby manufacture foils with areas of different material properties
Data Source
AI summary
A card body for a portable data carrier, in particular a chip card or magnetic strip card, and a method for manufacturing a card body. The card body includes at least a coextruded foil having at least two areas with different material properties. By using coextruded foils a card body consisting of a plurality of alternating opaque and transmissive strips as well as a card body with a window can be formed in a simple fashion.