Biaxially oriented bio-based polyester thin films and laminates for thermal transfer printing

• US 9,561,676 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toray Plastics (America), Inc. (Toray Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Toray Plastics (America), Inc. (Toray Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sakellarides, Stefanos L., Moscaritolo, Milan William
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Bruce H
• Application Number:
  US14/139,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20140113132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 503/227, 428 326- 3287, 428/32.5, 428/327
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92704 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/0018 combined with shaping by orienting, stretching or shrinking, e.g. film blowing B29C48/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/0022 combined with cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/022 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/08 flexible, e.g. films
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/21 the layers being joined at their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/92 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 55/023 using multilayered plates or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 55/065 in several stretching steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 55/085 in several stretching steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 55/10 multiaxial
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 55/143 firstly parallel to the direction of feed and then transversely thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 55/146 firstly transversely to the direction of feed and then parallel thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 7/01 Films or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/003 PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/26 Scrap or recycled material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0056 Biocompatible, e.g. biopolymers or bioelastomers
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/744 Labels, badges, e.g. marker sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/09 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2272/00 Resin or rubber layer comprising scrap, waste or recycling material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/4026 : within the layer by addition of a colorant, e.g. pigments, dyes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/518 : bi-axially
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/704 : Crystalline
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2439/70 : Food packaging
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/06 : as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/18 : characterised by the use of special additives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 : comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 : using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 31/04 : woven from synthetic material
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/41 : Base layers supports or substrates
• 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: Y02P 20/582 : Recycling of unreacted starting or intermediate materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 : Three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 : Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]

Abstract

A bio-based polyester thin film substrate for thermal transfer printing ribbon. The bio-based polyester thermal transfer ribbon substrate film has a radiocarbon content of at least 12 pMC. The film exhibits excellent uniformity, handling, and processability, substantially equivalent to petroleum-based counterparts, while being derived wholly or partly from non-petroleum sources.

Claims

1. A film for thermal transfer printing comprising:

a biaxially oriented base film comprising polyester, wherein the polyester in the base film comprises bio-based polyester and has a radiocarbon content of at least 12 pMC, wherein the film is a thermal transfer ribbon for carrying inks or dyes used in thermal transfer printing and the film has a thickness of 0.5-10 μ

m.

2. The film of claim 1, wherein the base film is a single layer film.

3. The film of claim 1, wherein the base film is a multilayer film.

4. The film of claim 1, wherein the base film comprises crystalline polyethylene terephthalate.

5. The film of claim 4, wherein the polyester has a radiocarbon content of at least 18 pMC.

6. The film of claim 1, wherein the base film comprises recycled polyester.

7. The film of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer on a surface of the base film.

8. The film of claim 7, further comprising a colored dye coating on the adhesive layer.

9. The film of claim 7, further comprising a low friction coating on a surface of the base layer opposite the adhesive layer.

10. The film of claim 1, wherein the base film comprises a first type of lubricant particle.

11. The film of claim 10, wherein the base film comprises a second type of lubricant particle.

12. The film of claim 1, wherein the base film comprises at least two layers comprising at least partially bio-based polyester.

13. A film structure for thermal transfer printing comprising:

a biaxially oriented base film comprising at least partially bio-based polyester, a first type of lubricant particles, and a second type of lubricant particles;

an adhesive layer on a surface of the base film;

a colored dye coating on the adhesive layer; and

a low friction coating on a surface of the biaxally oriented base layer opposite the adhesive layer, wherein the film structure is a thermal transfer ribbon for carrying inks or dyes used in thermal transfer printing and the film structure has a thickness of 0.5-10 μ

m.

14. The film structure of claim 13, wherein the base film is a single layer film.

15. The film structure of claim 13, wherein the base film is a multilayer film.

16. The film structure of claim 13, wherein the base film comprises crystalline polyethylene terephthalate.

17. The film structure of claim 13, wherein the biaxially oriented base film comprises recycled polyester.

18. A method of making a film for thermal transfer printing comprising:

extruding a base film comprising polyester, wherein the polyester in the base film is comprises bio-based polyester and has a radiocarbon content of at least 12 pMC; and

biaxially orienting the base film, wherein the film is a thermal transfer ribbon for carrying inks or dyes used in thermal transfer printing and the film has a thickness of 0.5-10 μ

m.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the base film is extruded as a single layer film.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the base film is coextruded as a multilayer film.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the base film comprises crystalline polyethylene terephthalate.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the base film comprises recycled polyester.

23. The method claim 18, comprising applying an adhesive layer as a solution or dispersion to a surface of the base film.

24. The method of claim 23, comprising applying a colored dye coating onto the adhesive layer.

25. The method of claim 23, comprising applying a low friction coating on a surface of the base layer opposite the adhesive layer.

26. The method of film of claim 18, wherein biaxially orienting the base film comprises stretching the base film from 2 to 7 times in a longitudinal direction and from 2 to 5 times in a transverse direction.