Extendable Self-Supporting Material Composites and Manufacture Thereof

Specific composite materials described herein are based on the discovery that certain selections of materials and manufacturing conditions and processes provide unexpectedly improved self-supporting thin-film composite materials. It has been discovered that certain combinations of backing materials, shrink film materials, and manufacturing conditions provide improved composites having highly controllable, readily repeatable, and stable arc shaped cross-web curled structures. In general, the composite materials described herein comprise a dimensionally alterable film such as a polyester shrink film having a first surface and a second surface, and a polyester backing material having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface of the backing material is laminated to the first surface of the dimensionally alterable film. Upon activation of the alterable film, for example upon exposing the composite material comprising the polyester heat shrink film to heat, the composite material can be imparted with an arc shaped cross-web curled structure along it longitudinal width, resulting in resistance to bending in its axial length, and a self-supporting material. 1. A self-supporting composite having an axial length and a longitudinal width , the composite comprising:a polyester film backing having a first surface and a second surface;a heat activated polyester shrink film comprising a first surface and a second surface;a laminating adhesive disposed between the second surface of the backing and the first surface of the shrink film;the shrink film being oriented within the composite wherein, upon activation, the shrink film contracts greater along the longitudinal width of the composite than the axial length; andthe axial length of the composite has a curvature about the longitudinal width of the composite material induced by heat activation of the shrink film, wherein the curvature is in the shape of an arc and which curvature imparts stiffness to the ...