# US 2014/0154498 A1 · Multilayer film structures

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- Number: US 2014/0154498 A1
- Document ID: US20140154498A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/176,886
- Filed: 2014-02-10
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2008-07-10
- Inventors: Mark Lockhart; Robert Sheppard
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154498A1

## CPC

- B32B 27/32: comprising polyolefins {(comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30)}
- B29C 59/026: {of layered or coated substantially flat surfaces}
- B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin
- B32B 27/20: using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents
- B32B 27/205: {the fillers creating voids or cavities, e.g. by stretching}
- B29C 48/0023: {combined with printing or marking}
- B29C 48/08: flexible, e.g. films
- B29C 48/10: flexible, e.g. blown foils
- B29C 48/21: the layers being joined at their surfaces
- B29C 2795/007: after shaping
- B29K 2023/06: {PE, i.e. polyethylene}
- B29K 2023/12: {PP, i.e. polypropylene}
- B29K 2995/0067: non-permeable
- B32B 2250/242: All polymers belonging to those covered by group B32B27/32
- B32B 2264/108: Carbon, e.g. graphite particles
- B32B 2270/00: Resin or rubber layer containing a blend of at least two different polymers
- B32B 2274/00: Thermoplastic elastomer material
- B32B 2307/31: Heat sealable
- B32B 2307/41: Opaque
- B32B 2307/412: Transparent
- B32B 2307/516: mono-axially
- B32B 2307/518: bi-axially
- B32B 2307/746: Slipping, anti-blocking, low friction
- B32B 2307/75: Printability
- Y10T 428/249953: Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
- Y10T 428/249981: Plural void-containing components
- Y10T 428/249993: Hydrocarbon polymer
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Disclosed, among others, are a multilayer film that permits thermal printing or printing by application of pressure from pressure-applying devices. The structure includes an extruded, outer skin layer and an extruded internal pigment layer. Further, the structure includes an extruded image-rendering layer intermediate to the outer skin layer and the pigment layer, the image-rendering layer including a collapsible layer structure, sensitive to the application of temperature and/or pressure, having dispersed therein a plurality of voids, the collapsible layer structure in uncollapsed condition being substantially opaque to obscure from view the pigment layer there beneath. The collapsible layer structure is selectively collapsible by application of temperature and/or pressure to temporarily elevate localized temperature or pressure at the collapsible layer structure at select locations, so as to provide substantially transparent collapsed structure at the select locations, the pigment layer being visible through the substantially transparent collapsed structure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An oriented multilayer film for printing, comprising:
an extruded outer skin layer;
an extruded internal pigment layer; and
an extruded image-rendering layer intermediate to the outer skin layer and the pigment layer, the image-rendering layer comprising a voided layer having a collapsible layer structure having dispersed therein a plurality of voids, the plurality of voids being formed by orienting the multilayer film comprising the extruded image-rendering layer and the collapsible layer structure in uncollapsed condition being substantially opaque in order to obscure the pigment layer therebeneath.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The multilayer film of claim 1, wherein the collapsible layer structure is selectively collapsible by thermal printing to temporarily elevate localized temperature of the collapsible layer structure to a melting point thereof at select locations, so as to provide a collapsed structure at the select locations, the pigment layer being visible through the collapsed structure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The multilayer film of claim 1, wherein the collapsible layer structure is selectively collapsible by applying pressure to select locations, so as to provide a collapsed structure at the select locations the pigment layer being visible through the collapsed structure.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The multilayer film of claim 1, wherein the pigment layer comprises a composition selected from at least one member of a group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A multilayer film of claim 1, wherein the collapsible layer comprises a composition selected from at least one member of a group consisting of high density polyethylene, polypropylene, hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The multilayer film of claim 1, further comprising the collapsible layer structure comprising at least one elastomer selected from a group consisting of propylene-based elastomer, ethylene-propylene copolymer, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The multilayer film of claim 1, further comprising the collapsible layer structure comprising hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin, and in combination therewith, propylene-based elastomer, ethylene-propylene copolymer, and combinations thereof, wherein the pigment layer comprises polypropylene and hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The multilayer film of claim 1, wherein the outer skin layer comprises a composition selected from at least one member of a group consisting of ethylene-propylene copolymer, polyethylene, high density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, propylene homopolymers, terpolymers, matte resins, antiblocking additives, and slip agents.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The multilayer film of claim 1, further comprising a core layer beneath the pigment layer, the core layer comprising a voided layer or a non-voided layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The multilayer film of claim 9, wherein the core layer comprises a composition selected from at least one member of a group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The multilayer film of claim 1, further comprising particles of a cavitating agent dispersed in the image-rendering layer, the particles having a refractive index comparable to the collapsible layer structure.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The multilayer film of claim 1, further comprising an additional extruded skin layer located non-adjacent to the extruded, outer skin layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The multilayer film of claim 1, further comprising at least one coating selected from a group consisting of barrier coatings, slip coatings, adhesive-receptive coatings, and printable coatings.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The multilayer film of claim 1, wherein the extruded internal pigment layer is voided or not voided.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A method of making a multilayer film, the method comprising the steps of:
extruding in respective extruders resin compositions having the compositions specified in claim 1 to provide a plurality of respective extruded film layers, the plurality of extruded film layers comprising an extruded image-rendering layer having dispersed therein a cavitating agent;
providing the plurality of extruded film layers from the respective extruders to an orienting apparatus; and
orienting the plurality of extruded film layers together on the orienting apparatus to form the multilayer film, the orienting forming a plurality of voids in the extruded image-rendering layer, the plurality of voids making the image-rendering layer substantially opaque.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising selecting the cavitating agent having particles with a refractive index comparable to a collapsible layer structure that includes the image-rendering layer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A method for printing a multilayer film, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a multilayer film as specified in claim 1 to a thermal print head of a thermal printer or a pressure-applying device; and
activating the thermal print head or the pressure-applying device for a time period, sufficient to apply a member of a group consisting of localized temperature, localized pressure, and combinations thereof, to a collapsible layer structure of a respective image-rendering layer in the multilayer film at select locations, so as to provide a collapsed structure at the select locations for making visible a pigment layer of the multilayer film.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising pre-heating, prior to the activating, the multilayer film having particles of a cavitating agent dispersed in the image-rendering layer, wherein the pre-heating is to a temperature below a melting point of the image-rendering layer.

### Claim 19

Apparatus for thermal printing of multilayer film, comprising:
a thermal printer having a thermal print head configured to be activated for a time period sufficient to temporarily elevate localized temperature of a thermally collapsible layer structure of a respective image-rendering layer at select locations of the multilayer film positioned in proximity to the thermal print head, to a melting point at select locations for deforming the thermally collapsible layer structure.

### Claim 20

Apparatus for printing of multilayer film, comprising:
a pressure-applying device configured to be activated for a time period sufficient to temporarily apply localized pressure to a collapsible layer structure of a respective image- rendering layer at select locations of the multilayer film positioned in proximity to the pressure- applying device for deforming the collapsible layer structure.