Multilayer Oriented Film Low Crystallinity Tie Layer

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The bond strength between polyester or co-polyester layers of high crystallinity and conventional adhesive layers in oriented structures is sometimes not sufficiently high, leading to delamination issues in heat-shrinkable or heat-set films.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a layer of co-polyester with a relatively low crystallinity between the high crystallinity polyester or co-polyester layer and the polyolefin-based adhesive layer to enhance the bond strength and prevent delamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a polyester layer with high crystallinity (>15%) is used in the outer layer, then abuse resistance, printability, and optical properties are improved, but bond strength to adhesive layers deteriorates leading to delamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabuse resistanceVSAvoidbond strength
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A tie layer comprising a copolyester with low crystallinity (<15%) is introduced as an intermediary between the high crystallinity polyester outer layer and the polyolefin-based adhesive layer. This tie layer acts as a mediator that provides both crystallinity for structural integrity and sufficient adhesion to the adhesive layer, preventing delamination while maintaining the benefits of high crystallinity polyester.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite multilayer structure where different polyester materials with complementary properties are combined. The outer layer uses high crystallinity polyester for mechanical strength and optical properties, while the tie layer uses low crystallinity copolyester for adhesion, creating a composite system that achieves both durability and bond strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If a polyester layer with high crystallinity (>15%) is used in the outer layer, then optical properties and gloss are improved, but bond strength to adhesive layers deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveglossVSAvoidbond strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The low crystallinity copolyester tie layer serves as an intermediary that decouples the optical performance requirements from the adhesion requirements. It allows the high crystallinity outer layer to provide gloss and optical properties while the tie layer provides the necessary bond to the adhesive layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the film structure are assigned different crystallinity levels appropriate to their function: the outer layer has high crystallinity for optical properties, while the tie layer has low crystallinity for adhesion. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between gloss and bond strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If adhesive layers are used to bind polyester layers, then bond between layers is improved, but delamination occurs when polyester has high crystallinity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebond between layersVSAvoiddelamination resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The low crystallinity copolyester tie layer acts as a mediator between the high crystallinity polyester and the polyolefin adhesive. It provides a compatible interface that ensures stable bonding, preventing the delamination that would otherwise occur due to the incompatibility between high crystallinity polyester and conventional adhesives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional adhesive layers are used with high crystallinity polyester, then manufacturing process is simple, but structural integrity deteriorates due to delamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention maintains manufacturing simplicity by using a coextrusion process to create a multilayer composite structure. The composite includes high crystallinity polyester for structural integrity, low crystallinity copolyester for adhesion, and polyolefin for bonding, all integrated in a single manufacturing step that preserves both ease of production and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP1976695B1Multilayer oriented film
Publication Date: 2018.11.21 CRYOVAC INC
  • EP1976695B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~3(d)
  • EP1976695B1 patent drawingFigure 4(a)~5(g)

AI summary

A multilayer oriented film comprising at least one layer (a) comprising one or more polyesters and/or copolyesters characterized by a % of crystallinity higher than 15, an adjacent layer (b) comprising one or more polyolefin-based adhesive resins, and a layer (c) comprising one or more co-polyesters characterized by a % of crystallinity lower than 15, is positioned between said two layers (a) and (b) in such a way that one of the two principal surfaces of layer (c) is directly adhered to layer (a) and the other is directly adhered to layer (b). The presence of a co-polyester layer (c) of relatively low % crystallinity positioned between (co)polyester layer (a) and adhesive layer (b) remarkably increases the bond between the two layers (a) and (b) and prevents delamination problems in the oriented structure.