Inherently Printable Polymeric Material and Related Methods

A substrate having a surface, the substrate comprising:

• a polymeric material including;
• about 15-30 wt % of a thermoplastic polymer with a Tg of about 30-80° C.;
• about 20-65 wt % of a cyclic olefin copolymer;
• about 10-25 wt % of an ionomer of ethylene and methacrylic acid;
• and
• about 10-25 wt % a thermoplastic rubber,
• wherein at least a portion of the surface is covered by the polymeric material.

A method of forming a polymeric material comprising:

• preparing a mixture comprising about 15-30 wt % of a thermoplastic polymer with a Tg of about 30-80° C., about 20-65 wt % of a cyclic olefin copolymer, about 10-25 wt % of an ionomer of ethylene and methacrylic acid, and about 10-25 wt % a styrenic block copolymer,
• melting the mixture;
• and
• cooling the mixture to thereby form the polymeric material.

A method of forming a polymeric material having printed indicia on a surface thereof, the method comprising:

• preparing a mixture comprising about 15-30 wt % of a thermoplastic polymer with a Tg of about 30-80° C., about 20-65 wt % of a cyclic olefin copolymer, about 10-25 wt % of an ionomer of ethylene and methacrylic acid, and about 10-25 wt % a styrenic block copolymer,
• melting the mixture;
• cooling the mixture to thereby form a printable polymeric material, and
• printing indicia on a surface of the polymeric material.