Transparent polyester film having at least three layers and process for its production

• US 20020037418A1
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Polyester Film GmbH (Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Polyester Film GmbH (Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hilkert, Gottfried, Peiffer, Herbert
• Granted Patent: US 6,787,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/458
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/91 Product with molecular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24967 Absolute thicknesses specified
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24975 No layer or component greater than 5 mils thick
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/265 1 mil or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31667 Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers, or aldehyde or ketone condensation product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31681 Next to polyester, polyamide or polyimide [e.g., alkyd, glue, or nylon, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]

Abstract

A transparent, biaxially oriented polyester film is disclosed, with a base layer B which comprises at least 80% by weight of thermoplastic polyester, and with at least one intermediate layer Z, and with at least one outer layer A. The outer layer A is composed of a polymer or of a mixture of polymers which contains at least 85% by weight of ethylene 2,6-naphthalate units and up to 15% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units, and/or up to 15% by weight of units derived from cycloaliphatic or aromatic diols and/or dicarboxylic acids, and the intermediate layer Z is composed of a mixture of polymers which contains at least 3% by weight of ethylene 2,6-naphthalate units and up to 97% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units, and/or up to 97% by weight of units derived from cycloaliphatic or aromatic diols and/or dicarboxylic acids. The T_g2 value of the polyester film is above the T_g2 value of the base layer B, but below the T_g2 value of the outer layer A. The film has low permeability to atmospheric oxygen and exhibits very good adhesion between the individual layers. It is particularly suitable for packaging purposes, specifically for packaging foods or other consumable items.

Claims

1. A transparent, biaxially oriented polyester film with a base layer B, which comprises at least 80% by weight of thermoplastic polyester, and with at least one intermediate layer Z, and with at least one outer layer A, wherein

the outer layer A is composed of a polymer, of a mixture of polymers/copolymers, or of a copolymer, which contains at least 85% by weight of ethylene 2,6-naphthalate units and up to 15% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units, and/or up to 15% by weight of units derived from cycloaliphatic or aromatic diols and/or dicarboxylic acids;

the intermediate layer Z is composed of a polymer, of a mixture of polymers/copolymers, or of a copolymer, which contains at least 3% by weight of ethylene 2,6-naphthalate units, and up to 97% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units, and/or up to 97% by weight of units derived from cycloaliphatic or aromatic diols and/or dicarboxylic acids;

the T_g2 value of the polyester film is above the T_g2 value of the base layer B but below the T_g2 value of the outer layer A.

2. The film as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer layer A contains at least 90% by weight of ethylene 2,6-naphthalate units.

3. The film as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer Z contains at least 5% by weight of ethylene 2,6-naphthalate units.

4. The film as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oxygen permeation of the film is below 85 cm³/(m²·

bar·

d).

5. The film as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesion between the individual layers is greater than or equal to 0.5 N/25 mm.

6. The film as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer layer A has a thickness above 0.3 μ

m.

7. The film as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer Z has a thickness above 0.1 μ

m.

8. The film as claimed in claim 1, which has four layers and comprises an additional outer layer C, arranged thereupon the base layer B, and arranged thereupon the intermediate layer Z, and arranged thereupon the outer layer A.

9. The film as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the outer layers has been pigmented.

10. The film as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one side of the film has been corona-treated.

11. The film as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one side of the film has been in-line coated.

12. The film as claimed in claim 1, which, at least on the outer layer A, has been metallized or ceramic-coated.

13. A process for producing the film as claimed in claim 1, encompassing the steps

producing a film from base layer B, intermediate layer Z, and outer layer(s) by coextrusion,

biaxially stretching the film, and

heat-setting the stretched film,

which comprises carrying out the biaxial stretching by a longitudinal stretching of the film at a temperature in the range from 80 to 130°

C. and by a transverse stretching in the range from 90 to 150°

C. and using a longitudinal stretching ratio in the range from 2.5;

1 to 6;

1, and using a transverse stretching ratio in the range from 3.0;

1 to 5.0;

1.

14. The process as claimed in claim 13, wherein, for heat-setting, the stretched film is held for a period of from about 0.1 to 10 s at a temperature of from 150 to 250°

C.

15. The process as claimed in claim 13, wherein cut material arising during film production is reused as regrind in the film production in amounts of up to 60% by weight, based in each case on the total weight of the film.