Laser Printing Laminate Structure for Heat-Stable Label Definition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laminates for laser printing face issues with achieving high-definition printing due to heat accumulation in the black layer, leading to distortion of characters or two-dimensional codes, and potential failure in printing dense information on small labels.
Innovation Solution
A laminate structure comprising a first layer for shielding laser light, a second layer for absorbing laser light, and an optically transparent base material layer, where the second layer contains a resin composition with a reaction product of an acrylic resin, a polycaprolactone polyol, and a polyisocyanate, ensuring high adhesion and precise etching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a black layer containing carbon black is directly stacked with a white layer containing titanium oxide for laser printing, then the laminate can be etched to form holes for printing, but heat accumulates in the black layer causing the PET film to soften and characters to distort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transparent adhesive layer as an intermediary thermal insulation layer between the white layer (titanium oxide) and the black layer (carbon black). This adhesive layer acts as a thermal barrier that prevents heat generated during laser etching of the black layer from transferring to the PET film base material, thereby preventing film softening and character distortion while maintaining printing definition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite laminate structure consisting of multiple layers with different functional properties: a transparent base material layer (PET film), a white layer containing titanium oxide, a transparent adhesive layer with thermal insulation properties, and a black layer containing carbon black. This composite structure allows each layer to perform its specific function while working together to achieve high-definition printing without heat-induced distortion
2Manufacturing precision
If the white layer is irradiated with laser light for printing, then the white layer can be etched to form holes, but sufficient printing may not be achieved depending on wavelength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the printing function into two separate layers: the white layer (titanium oxide) that absorbs laser light to form etched holes, and the black layer (carbon black) that provides the visible print contrast. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized for its specific function, ensuring reliable and consistent printing results across different laser wavelengths
3Quantity of substance
If labels are made small for process control applications, then dense information can be printed, but high dimensional stability is required to prevent distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent adhesive layer serves as a thermal insulation barrier that prevents heat from the black layer from softening the PET film base material during laser printing. This thermal protection maintains the dimensional stability of the label, preventing distortion of characters and two-dimensional codes even when printed at high information density on small labels
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
The laminate prevents printing failures by reducing heat-induced deformation and achieves high-definition printing with improved adhesion and accuracy, allowing for dense and precise information printing on small labels.
Implementation Method 1
a first layer having a property of shielding against laser light
Implementation Method 2
a second layer having a property of absorbing the laser light
Implementation Method 3
heat resulting from the irradiation with laser light is transmitted to and accumulated in the black layer 53
Implementation Method 4
a third layer having a property of absorbing the laser light
Implementation Method 5
the white layer 51 is etched to have a hole 30 which will become a print portion
Implementation Method 6
once the white layer 51 has been irradiated with laser light, in a case of CO2 laser, the white layer 51 is etched
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a laminate and label for laser printing which are capable of preventing or reducing the occurrence of failure in printing by laser light irradiation. A laminate (1) is at least a laminate for laser printing, including a first layer (31) having a property of shielding against laser light, a second layer (32) having a property of absorbing the laser light, and a base material layer (33) which is optically transparent, which are stacked in the order named. The second layer (32) may have a thickness of not more than 15 μm, and may have a specific composition.