Recyclable polymeric label paper
First Claim
1. In a labeled plastic container comprising a blow-molded container made of polyethylene and having an outer surface and a non-film polymeric label attached to said outer surface of said blow-molded container, the improvement wherein said label consists of a nonwoven web of wet-laid fibers bonded to said outer surface of said blow-molded container, said fibers comprising polyethylene pulp and none of said fibers being made of cellulosic material, said web having a continuous coating of pigmented binder formed on at least one surface thereof which provides a printable surface, said polyethylene pulp being bonded by said pigmented binder without substantial thermal fusion of said polyethylene pulp by curing said binder at temperatures below the melting temperature of said polyethylene.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An in-mold label material is a nonwoven mat of fibers having one side fused with the outer surface of a polymeric container and the other side coated with a pigment-containing latex suitable for printing thereon. The label paper is manufactured from commercially available fibers combined in water into a homogeneous mixture and then formed into a mat employing a wet-lay process. For use with polyethylene containers, the label may be a web consisting of 88-100% polyethylene fibers and 0-15% polyvinyl alcohol fibers or 70-100% polyethylene fibers, 0-15% polyvinyl alcohol fibers and 0-30% polypropylene fibers. For use with polyester containers, the label may be a web consisting of 50-90% polyester staple fibers, 10-40% bicomponent polyester/co-polyester, core/sheath binder fibers and 0-10% polyvinyl alcohol binder fibers thermally bonded together. The nonwoven web of fibers has a pigmented coating. After the material has been cut into labels, the labels may be applied to the blow-molded containers in-mold without the use of an adhesive material using a conventional in-mold labeling technique or post-mold using adhesive.
38 Citations
9 Claims
- 1. In a labeled plastic container comprising a blow-molded container made of polyethylene and having an outer surface and a non-film polymeric label attached to said outer surface of said blow-molded container, the improvement wherein said label consists of a nonwoven web of wet-laid fibers bonded to said outer surface of said blow-molded container, said fibers comprising polyethylene pulp and none of said fibers being made of cellulosic material, said web having a continuous coating of pigmented binder formed on at least one surface thereof which provides a printable surface, said polyethylene pulp being bonded by said pigmented binder without substantial thermal fusion of said polyethylene pulp by curing said binder at temperatures below the melting temperature of said polyethylene.
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6. A nonwoven composite web for use in making a cellulose-free, non-film polymeric labeled plastic container, consisting of a nonwoven web of 100% fibers entangled by a wet-lay process, said container being made of polyester and said web having the following fiber composition:
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50-90% chopped polyester staple fibers; 10-40 wt. % binder fibers containing a co-polyester material having a melting temperature less than the melting temperature of said chopped polyester staple fibers; and 0-10% polyvinyl alcohol binder fibers. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification