Curable topcoat composition and methods for use

A stable data carrying device comprising:

• (a) a polymeric substrate;
• and
• (b) a topcoat layer, said topcoat layer formed from a topcoat composition comprising:
• (i) polymerizable composition comprising hard and flexible polymerizable subunits, wherein
• (a) the hard subunit comprises alkoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate with a degree of alkoxylation ranging from about 1 to about 10;
• (b) the flexible subunit comprises alkoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate with a degree of alkoxylation ranging from about 10 to about 20;
• and
• (c) the ratio of hard to flexible subunits in the composition is from about 1.5:1 to about 4:1;
• and
• (ii) polymeric binder;
• wherein the ratio by weight of the polymerizable composition to the polymeric binder is between 0.75:1 and 1.50:1 inclusive;
• and wherein the topcoat layer is substantially plasticizer free.

A method for preparing a topcoat film useable in preparing a stable data carrying device, said method comprising steps of:

• (a) providing a topcoat composition, said composition comprising:
• (i) polymerizable composition comprising hard and flexible polymerizable subunits, wherein
• (a) the hard subunit comprises alkoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate with a degree of alkoxylation ranging from about 1 to about 10:
• (b) the flexible subunit comprises alkoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate with a degree of alkoxylation ranging from about 10 to about 20;
• and
• (c) the ratio of hard to flexible subunits in the composition is from about 1.5:1 to about 4:1;
• and
• (ii) polymeric binder;
• wherein the topcoat composition is substantially plasticizer free and wherein the ratio by weight of the polymerizable composition to the binder is between 0.75:1 and 1.50:1 inclusive;
• (b) applying the topcoat composition to a base film;
• and
• (c) forming a topcoat layer.

A method for preparing a stable data carrying device, said method comprising steps of:

• (a) providing a topcoat film, said step of providing the film comprising:
• (i) providing a topcoat composition, said composition comprising:
• polymerizable composition comprising hard and flexible polymerizable subunits, wherein
• (a) the hard subunit comprises alkoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate with a degree of alkoxylation ranging from about 1 to about 10;
• (b) the flexible subunit comprises alkoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate with a degree of alkoxylation ranging from about 10 to about 20;
• and
• (c) the ratio of hard to flexible subunits in the composition is from about 1.5:1 to about 4:1;
• and polymeric binder;
• wherein the topcoat composition is substantially plasticizer free and wherein the ratio by weight of the polymerizable composition to the binder is between 0.75:1 and 1.50:1 inclusive;
• and
• (ii) applying the topcoat composition to a base film forming a topcoat layer on the base film;
• (b) providing a polymeric substrate useable in a data carrying device;
• (c) laminating the topcoat film to the polymeric substrate such that the topcoat layer is adjacent to the polymeric substrate forming a topcoated polymeric substrate;
• (d) removing the base film from the polymeric substrate;
• and
• (e) curing the topcoated polymeric substrate.

A method for protecting printed matter on a data carrying device, the method comprising steps of:

• (a) providing a polymeric substrate useable in a data carrying device, said substrate having dye diffusion printed matter or thermal transfer printed matter on at least one surface;
• (b) providing a topcoat film, said step of providing the film comprising:
• (i) providing a topcoat composition, said composition comprising:
• polymerizable composition comprising hard and flexible polymerizable subunits, wherein
• (a) the hard subunit comprises alkoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate with a degree of alkoxylation ranging from about 1 to about 10:
• (b) the flexible subunit comprises alkoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate with a degree of alkoxylation ranging from about 10 to about 20;
• and
• (c) the ratio of hard to flexible subunits in the composition is from about 1.5:1 to about 4:1;
• and polymeric binder;
• wherein the topcoat composition is substantially plasticizer free and wherein the ratio by weight of the polymeric composition to the binder is between 0.75:1 and 1.50:1 inclusive;
• and
• (ii) applying the topcoat composition to a base film forming a topcoat layer on the base film;
• (c) laminating the topcoat film to the polymeric substrate in such a maimer that the topcoat layer is adjacent to the polymeric substrate forming a topcoated polymeric substrate;
• (d) curing the topcoated polymeric substrate;
• and
• (e) removing the base film from the topcoated polymeric substrate.