Process for production of biaxially oriented films based on crystallizable thermoplastics, using recycled material whose molecular weight has been increased by condensation processes

• US 7,700,015 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Polyester Film GmbH (Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Polyester Film GmbH (Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Crass, Guenther, Murschall, Ursula, Kern, Ulrich, Kuhmann, Bodo
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLLSCHLAGER, JEFFREY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/172,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 264/37.32
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 11/06 without chemical reactions
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2367/02 Polyesters derived from dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds; C08J2367/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 5/18 Manufacture of films or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/62 Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 264/92 by extruding material recycled from consumer used article or product

Abstract

A process is described for production of a biaxially oriented film which comprises at one crystallizable thermoplastic as main constituent and comprises at least 500 ppm, based on the weight of thermoplastic, of a pigment. The production process uses at least 20% by weight, based on the weight of the film, of recycled material of the same type whose molecular weight has been increased by condensation processes.

Claims

1. A process for production of a biaxially oriented film which comprises extruding or coextruding a composition comprising (i) at least one crystallizable thermoplastic as main constituent (ii) at least 500 ppm, based on the weight of the thermoplastic, of a pigment, and (iii) a total of from 60 to 100% by weight, based on the weight of the film, of a mixture of recycled material formed entirely from said film,

wherein the molecular weight of at least 20% by weight, based on the weight of the film, of recycled material formed entirely from said film within said recycle mixture has been increased by condensation processes prior to said extruding or coextruding step, and

said film exhibits a modulus of elasticity in the transverse direction of greater than or equal to 5100 N/mm²,

wherein the standard viscosity SV (DCA) of the recycled material has been increased by the condensation process by at least 100 up to the standard viscosity SV (DCA) of said crystallizable thermoplastic prior to said extrusion or coextrusion, and

wherein the mixture of recycled material includes from 10 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of the film, of additional recycled material other than the recycled material whose molecular weight has been increased.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the film is from 2 to 500 μ

m.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein, based on the weight of the thermoplastic, up to 25% by weight of at least one pigment are added to the film.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the film is a single-layer film produced via extrusion.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the film is a multilayer film produced via coextrusion and having at least one core layer and at least one outer layer.

6. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pigment comprises titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, kaolin, silicon dioxide and/or an inorganic color pigment or inorganic black pigment.

7. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the molecular weight of said recycled material has been increased via melt or solid-phase post-condensation.

8. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the standard viscosity SV (DCA) of the recycled material has been increased by the condensation process by at least 100 to 250.

9. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said crystallizable thermoplastic, comprises polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, or a mixture thereof.

10. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the crystallizable thermoplastics are mixed with additives which stabilize the film with respect to UV radiation, color the film, render the film flame-retardant, render the film sealable, and/or render the film resistant to hydrolysis.

11. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the recycled material is predried after the condensation process which increases its molecular weight.

12. A process for producing biaxially oriented film having a thickness ranging from 4 to 300 microns comprising extruding or coextruding a composition comprising (i) at least one crystallizable thermoplastic and (ii) at least 500 ppm, based on the weight of the thermoplastic, of a pigment,

wherein said film further comprises from 50 to 100% by weight, based on the weight of the film, of a mixture of recycled material formed entirely from said film,

the molecular weight of from 20% to 80% by weight, based on the weight of the film, of said recycled material within said recycle mixture has been increased by condensation processes prior to said extruding or coextruding step,

the mixture of recycled material further includes from 10 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of the film, of additional recycled material other than the recycled material whose molecular weight has been increased,

said film exhibiting a modulus of elasticity in the transverse direction of greater than or equal to 4200 N/mm²,

and the standard viscosity SV (DCA) of the recycled material has been increased by the condensation process by at least 100 up to the standard viscosity SV (DCA) of said crystallizable thermoplastic prior to said extrusion or coextrusion.

13. A process according to claim 12, wherein said film includes from 60 to 80% by weight, based on the weight of the film, of a mixture of recycled material formed entirely from said film,

and the molecular weight of 30 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of the film, of the recycled material formed entirely from said film has been increased by condensation processes prior to said extruding or coextruding step, said film exhibiting a modulus of elasticity in the transverse direction of greater than or equal to 4300 N/mm².

14. A process for production of a biaxially oriented film which comprises extruding or coextruding a composition comprising at least one crystallizable thermoplastic as main constituent;

at least 500 ppm, based on the weight of the thermoplastic, of a pigment; and

recycled material,

said film comprising from 50 to 100% by weight, based on the weight of the film, of a mixture of (i) recycled material formed entirely from said film and (ii) recycled material formed entirely from said film whose molecular weight has been increased by condensation processes prior to said extruding or coextruding step, wherein

the film has a thickness of less than 4 microns and comprises from 30% to 40% by weight, based on the weight of the film, of said recycled material formed entirely from said film whose molecular weight has been increased or

the film has a thickness of greater than 300 microns and comprises from 20% to 70% by weight, based on the weight of the film, of said recycled material formed entirely from said film whose molecular weight has been increased and from 10 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of the film, of additional recycled material other than the recycled material whose molecular weight has been increased

and the standard viscosity SV (DCA) of the recycled material has been increased by the condensation process by at least 100 up to the standard viscosity SV (DCA) of said crystallizable thermoplastic prior to said extrusion or coextrusion.