Ink receptive films and printing stocks
(19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE(54) Title Ink receptive films and printing stocks(51)6 International Patent Classification(s) B41M 005/00 COS J 007/04 B32B 027/32 C09D 005/02(21) Application No: 2002359235 (22) Application Date: 2002 .05.23(87) WIPO No: WO03/029015(30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date 09/896,718 2001 .06.29 (33) Country US 200510207(43) Publication Date : 2003.04.14(43) Publication Journal Date : 2003 .06.26 (71) Applicant(s) 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY(72) Inventor(s) Peterson, Jeffrey A.; Enqel, Michael R.; Kausch, William L.(-1-1) Application NoAU2002359235 A8(19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE(54) Title Ink receptive films and printing stocks(51)6 International Patent Classification(s) B41M 005/00 COS J 007/04 B32B 027/32 C09D 005/02(21) Application No: 2002359235 (22) Application Date: 2002 .05.23(87) WIPO No: WO03/029015(30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date 09/896,718 2001 .06.29 (33) Country US 200510207(43) Publication Date : 2003.04.14(43) Publication Journal Date : 2003 .06.26 (71) Applicant(s) 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY(72) Inventor(s) Peterson, Jeffrey A.; Enqel, Michael R.; Kausch, William L.-1- A film receptive to a variety of different classes or kinds of inks, such as water based inks, solvent based inks and UV cured inks. The film includes a water based latex polymer, such as transparent film-forming core/shell latex polymers, a polar polymer, such as polymers having an ionic component to increase the receptivity of the coating to water-based inks, and a surfactant, such as an alkyaryl sulfonate, to prevent agglomeration of the latex polymer before it is formed into film. The preferred latex polymer is a core/shell latex polymer. The preferred polar polymer is chemically compatible with latex polymers and is sufficiently ionic or polar to improve the printability onto the film of water-based inks. The surfactant, which may be in the latex as manufactured or may be added separately, has a molecular structure that includes at least one hydrophobic moiety and at least one anionic group such as sulfates, sulfonates and the like. CLAIMS 1. An ink receptive film, comprising: a water dispersible polymer in an amount sufficient to form a film, said water dispersible polymer being stable as a water dispersion without substantial agglomeration prior to forming said film, said polymer further having a polar component sufficient to increase the receptivity of said film to printing with water-based ink.
2. An ink receptive film, comprising: a water dispersible polymer in an amount sufficient to form a film, said water dispersible polymer being stable as a water dispersion without substantial agglomeration prior to forming said film; and a polar polymer, said polymer being present in an amount sufficient to increase the receptivity of said film to printing with water-based ink.
3. An ink receptive film, comprising: a water dispersible polymer in an amount sufficient to form a film; a polar polymer, said polymer being present in an amount sufficient to increase the receptivity of said film to printing with water-based ink; and a surfactant, said surfactant being present in an amount sufficient to maintain said water dispersible polymer as a water dispersion without substantial agglomeration prior to forming said film.
4. The film of claim 1, wherein said water dispersible polymer comprises from 65 to 99 parts by weight of said film.
5. The film of claim 1, wherein said water dispersible polymer is a latex polymer.
6. The film of claim 5, wherein said latex polymer comprises a core/shell latex polymer.
7. The film of claim 6, wherein said core/shell latex polymer comprises: from about 65 to 100 % by weight of a transparent film-forming core/shell latex polymer, wherein the ratio of core to shell ranges from about 10/90 to 90/10, with the core having a lower Tg than the shell; said latex core/shell polymer having a core formed from about 60 to 100 parts of at least one oc, p-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having from about 1 to about 12 carbon atoms and 0 to 40 parts of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of bicyclic alkyl (meth) acrylates and aromatic (meth) acrylates;STDC0371 said latex core/shell polymer having a shell formed from 35 to 100 parts of at least one oc, p-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having from about 1 to about 12 carbon atoms and 0 to 65 parts of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of bicyclic alkyl (meth) acrylates and aromatic (meth) acrylates.
8. The film of claim 7, wherein said core is at least 60 parts ethyl acrylate.
9. The film of claim 7, wherein said shell is at least 20 parts isobornyl acrylate.
10. The film of claim 7, wherein said shell comprises methyl methacrylate.
11. The film of claim 7, wherein said core is at least 60 parts ethyl acrylate and said shell is at least 20 parts isobornyl acetate.
12. The film of claim 1, wherein said water-dispersible polymer is comprised of sulfonated polyester.
13. The film of claim 1, wherein said water-dispersible polymer is comprised of polyurethane.
14. The film of claim 1, wherein said water-dispersible polymer is comprised of a suspension of said polymer.
15. The film of claim 1, wherein said polar polymer comprises from about 0.01 to 10% by weight of said film.
16. The film of claim 1, wherein said polar polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene sulfonate, poly (styrene-alt-maleic acid) sodium salt, poly (sodium 4-styrene sulfonate), and ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer, 17. The film of claim 1, wherein said water dispersion further includes a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof.
18. The film of claim 17, wherein said surfactant has a molecular structure including at least one hydrophobic moiety and at least one anionic group such as sulfates and sulfonates 19. The film of claim 1, wherein said water dispersion further includes an antistatic agent 20. The film of claim 19, wherein said antistatic agent is selected from the group consisting of polymeric antistatic agents, nonionic antistatic agents, cationic agents, anionic agents and fluorinated agents.
21. The film of claim 19, wherein said antistatic agent is 3,4polyethylenedioxythiophene.
22. The film of claim 1, wherein said water dispersion further includes a second surfactant for improving the formability during coating of said film, said second surfactant being selected from nonionic emulsifiers, anionic emulsifiers, and mixtures of nonionic and anionic emulsifiers.
23. The film of claim 22, wherein all surfactants total at least about 1 % of said film.
24. The film of claim 22, wherein said nonionic emulsifier is a Cl l-Cl8 polyethylene oxide ethanol.
25. The film of claim 22, wherein said anionic emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of sodium salts of alkyl sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, alkylether sulfates, oleate sulfates, alkylarylether sulfates, alkylaryl polyether sulfates, and mixtures thereof.
26. The film of claim 1, wherein said water dispersion further includes a wetting agent selected from the group consisting of fluorochemical surfactants and ethoxylated acetylenic diols.
27. The film of claim 1, wherein said water dispersion further includes a coalescing agent.
28. The film of claim 27, wherein said coalescing agent is N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.
29. The film of claim 1, wherein said water dispersion further includes particulate matter.
30. The film of claim 29, wherein said particulate matter is selected from the group of polymeric particles, fine mineral particles, and mixtures thereof.
31. A composite ink receptive film, comprising: a substrate layer; and a first ink receptive layer, said first ink receptive layer comprising: a water dispersible polymer in an amount sufficient to form a coating on said substrate layer; a polar polymer, said polymer being present in an amount sufficient to increase the receptivity of said ink receptive layer to printing with water-based ink; and a surfactant, said surfactant being present in an amount sufficient to maintain said water dispersible polymer as a water dispersion without substantial agglomeration prior to forming said coating.
32. The composite ink receptive film of claim 31, wherein the substrate layer comprises a polymer substrate.
33. The composite ink receptive film of claim 32, wherein said polymer substrate is polyethylene terephthalate.
34. The composite ink receptive film of claim 32, wherein said polymer substrate is opaque.
35. The composite ink receptive film of claim 32, wherein said polymer substrate further includes a whitening agent.
36. The composite ink receptive film of claim 35, wherein said whitening agent isBaS04.
37. The composite ink receptive film of claim 31, which comprises label stock.
38. The composite ink receptive film of claim 37, wherein the substrate layer comprises a polymer substrate.
39. The composite ink receptive film of claim 38, wherein said polymer substrate is polyethylene terephthalate.
40. The composite ink receptive film of claim 38, wherein said polymer substrate is opaque.
41. The composite ink receptive film of claim 38, wherein said polymer substrate further includes a whitening agent.
42. The composite ink receptive film of claim 41, wherein said whitening agent isBaS04.
43. The composite ink receptive film of claim 31, further comprising: a second ink receptive layer, said substrate disposed between said first and said second ink receptive layers, and said second ink receptive layer comprising: a water dispersible polymer dispersed in water in an amount sufficient to form a film, said water dispersible polymer being stable as a water dispersion without substantial agglomeration prior to forming said film, said polymer further having a polar component sufficient to increase the receptivity of said film to printing with water-based ink. a water dispersible polymer in an amount sufficient to form a coating on said substrate layer; a polar polymer, said polymer being present in an amount sufficient to increase the receptivity of said ink receptive layer to printing with water-based ink;STDC0204 and a surfactant, said surfactant being present in an amount sufficient to maintain said water dispersible polymer as a water dispersion without substantial agglomeration prior to forming said coating.
44. The substrate of claim 43, wherein the first ink receptive layer has a matte appearance and the second ink receptive layer has a gloss side.
45. A printing stock comprising: a substrate; and an ink-receptive layer receptive to printing with water-based inks, solvent-based inks, and UV-cured inks.
46. The printing stock of claim 45, said ink-receptive layer comprising: a water dispersible polymer dispersed in water in an amount sufficient to form a film, said water dispersible polymer being stable as a water dispersion without substantial agglomeration prior to forming said film, said polymer further having a polar component sufficient to increase the receptivity of said film to printing with water-based ink.
47. The printing stock of claim 46, wherein said water dispersible polymer further includes a polar polymer, said polymer being present in an amount sufficient to increase the receptivity of said film to printing with water-based ink.
48. The printing stock of claim 46, wherein said water dispersible polymer includes a surfactant, said surfactant being present in an amount sufficient to maintain said water dispersible polymer as a water dispersion without substantial agglomeration prior to forming said film.
49. The printing stock of claim 45, in which said ink-receptive layer is wettable by said inks.
50. The printing stock of claim 45, in which said ink-receptive layer resists removal of said inks after printing thereon.
51. The printing stock of claim 45, wherein said ink receptive layer is resistant in a tape removal test to removal of said inks after printing thereon.
52. The printing stock of claim 45, which is resistant in an abrasion test to removal of said inks after printing thereon.
53. The printing stock of claim 45, further comprising a second ink receptive layer, wherein said printing stock has a matte side and a gloss side.
54. The printing stock of claim 45, which further includes an adhesive layer.
55. The printing stock claim 45, wherein said substrate is polyethylene terephthalate.
56. The printing stock of claim 45, wherein said substrate is opaque.
57. The printing stock of claim 45, wherein said substrate further includes a whitening agent.
58. The printing stock of claim 57, wherein said whitening agent is BaSO4.