Extensible Heat Transfer Labels Formed from Energy Curable Compositions

A heat transfer label assembly, comprising:

• a heat transfer label portion including at least one of a cured protective coating and a cured ink, the at least one of the cured protective coating and the cured ink comprising a thermoset;
• and
• a release portion releasbly joined to the heat transfer label portion,
• wherein the at least one of the cured protective coating and the cured ink is extensible at least about 5% in at least one direction without forming substantial defects in the heat transfer label portion.

A heat transfer label, comprising:

• a protective coating;
• a layer of adhesive;
• and
• an ink disposed between the protective coating and the layer of adhesive, the ink being configured to define at least one of a graphic and text,
• wherein
• the protective coating and the ink each independently comprise a thermoset, and
• the protective coating and ink are each extensible at least about 5% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the at least one of the graphic and text.

A method of making a heat transfer label assembly, the method comprising:

• depositing a protective coating composition onto a releasable carrier;
• curing the protective coating composition to form a cured protective coating;
• depositing an ink composition onto the cured protective coating;
• curing the ink composition to form a cured ink;
• and
• depositing an adhesive onto the cured ink,
• wherein
• the cured protective coating, cured ink, and adhesive define a label portion of the heat transfer label assembly, and
• the cured protective coating and cured ink are extensible at least about 5% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the label portion.

A method of decorating a container, the method comprising:

• contacting a heat transfer label with a container, the heat transfer label comprising
• an adhesive layer for joining the heat transfer label to the container,
• a protective coating, and
• ink disposed between the adhesive layer and protective coating, the ink defining decoration for decorating the container,
• wherein the protective coating and ink each independently comprise a thermoset;
• and
• stretching the heat transfer label while contacting the heat transfer label with the container, so that at least a portion of the heat transfer label is stretched at least about 5% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the decoration.