# US 2014/0190631 A1 · Fluid Activatable Adhesive for Glue-Free, Liner-Free, Labels for Glass and Plastic Substrates and Methods of Use Thereof

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- Number: US 2014/0190631 A1
- Document ID: US20140190631A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/738,420
- Filed: 2013-01-10
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10
- Assignees: NuLabel Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Nulabel Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Daniel Cho; David A. Sonshine; Heidi Munnelly; Benjamin Lux
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190631A1

## CPC

- G09F 3/10: by an adhesive layer
- C09J 5/02: involving pretreatment of the surfaces to be joined
- C09J 7/20: characterised by their carriers
- C09J 7/21: Paper; Textile fabrics
- C09J 7/22: Plastics; Metallised plastics
- C09J 7/30: characterised by the adhesive composition
- C09J 7/385: {Acrylic polymers}
- C09J 125/14: with unsaturated esters
- G09F 3/02: Forms or constructions (layered products B32B)
- C09J 2203/334: as a label
- C09J 2400/146: in the pretreated surface to be joined
- C09J 2433/00: Presence of (meth)acrylic polymer
- C09J 2467/008: in the pretreated surface to be joined
- G09F 2003/025: {Activatable adhesive}
- Y10T 428/25: Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
- Y10T 428/2804: Next to metal
- Y10T 428/2813: Heat or solvent activated or sealable
- G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- C09J: ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES (preparation of glue or gelatine C09H)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Methods for applying a liner-free, or liner-less label, to a substrate, particularly glass or plastic (e.g., PET) substrates are described herein. The method includes applying an adhesive composition, such as a polymeric coating, to a label face sheet, activating the adhesive composition with an activating fluid, and contacting the label to the substrate. The activating fluid is preferably a mixture of water and one or more organic solvents, such as low molecular weight alcohols. In some embodiments, the labels exhibit a percent fiber tear greater than about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, or 95% after one, two, three, four, or five minutes. In particular embodiments, the labels exhibits a percent fiber tear greater than 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, or 95% after two minutes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for applying a liner-free label to a glass or polyethylene terephthalate substrate, the method comprising applying a non-tacky polymeric coating comprising one or more polymers that are insoluble in water at neutral pH and soluble in water at alkaline pH to a face sheet, activating the polymeric coating with an activating fluid comprising water and one or more organic solvents to form a tacky coating, and contacting the label to the substrate, wherein the percent fiber tear of the label is greater than 50% after two minutes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is glass.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is polyethylene terephthalate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the label stock is printed or printable paper.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the label stock is a printed or printable polymeric film.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more organic solvents are one or more low boiling alcohols.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the activation fluid composition comprises 5% to 70% by weight of one or more low boiling alcohol(s).

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the activation fluid composition comprised 10% to 30% by weight of one or more low boiling alcohol(s).

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein at least one low boiling alcohol is n-propanol or isopropanol.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the label has greater than 70% paper tear after 2 minutes.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the label has greater than 80% paper tear after 2 minutes.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the label has greater than 90% paper tear after 2 minutes.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the label exhibits no blocking after 90 seconds at 60 psi and 48° C.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the label exhibits no blocking after 24 hours at 60 psi and 23° C.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the label exhibits no blocking after 24 hours at 70% relative humidity and 40° C.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the label exhibits no label drop-off after 72 hours immersed in ice water.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the label exhibits complete label drop-off after soaking in 0.5% to 5% sodium hydroxide solution at 65° C. to 75° C. for less than 5 minutes.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the label exhibits no label drop-off after 72 hours immersed in ice water and has complete label drop-off after soaking in 0.5% to 5% sodium hydroxide solution at 65° C. to 75° C. for less than 5 minutes.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric coating comprises more than one polymer.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the polymeric coating comprises a blend of an alkali soluble polymer and an emulsion or dispersion polymer.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20 wherein the alkali soluble polymer comprises styrene acrylate copolymer.

### Claim 22

A kit comprising a first container comprising an adhesive composition comprising a basic aqueous solution of one or more polymers that are insoluble in water at neutral pH and soluble in water at alkaline pH and a second container comprising an activating fluid comprising water and one or more organic solvents, wherein the peel strength of a label coated with the adhesive composition and activated with the activating fluid and applied to glass or polyethylene terephthalate results in greater than 50% fiber tear after 2 minutes.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The kit of claim 22, wherein the one or more organic solvents is selected from the group consisting of acetone, acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, n-propanol, n-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, 2-methy-2-butanol, n-pentanol, n-hexanol, 2-hexanol, cyclohexanol, n-heptanol, n-octanol, n-nonanol, n-decanol, undecanol, dodecanol, 1-tetradecanol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, butylene glycol, arachidyl alcohol, docosanol, tetracosanol, hexacosanol, octanosol, triacontanol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, polycosinol, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, mineral spirits, linseed oil, vegetable oil, citrus based solvents, limonene, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The kit of claim 22, wherein the polymeric coating comprises more than one polymer.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The kit of claim 24, wherein the polymeric coating comprises a blend of an alkali soluble polymer and an emulsion or dispersion polymer.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The kit of claim 24 wherein the alkali soluble polymer comprises styrene acrylate copolymer.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The kit of claim 23, wherein the one or more organic solvents are one or more low boiling alcohols.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The kit of claim 27, wherein the activation fluid composition comprises 5% to 70% by weight of one or more low boiling alcohol(s).

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The kit of claim 28, wherein the activation fluid composition comprised 10% to 30% by weight of one or more low boiling alcohol(s).

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The kit of claim 29, wherein at least one low boiling alcohol is n-propanol or isopropanol.