Transfer foil, method for producing a transfer foil and method for producing a plastic article decorated using a transfer foil

1 . A method for producing a transfer film, the method comprising:

applying a master structure varnish to a carrier film;

introducing a replicated master structure in the master structure varnish; and

applying a topcoat to the replicated master structure, wherein a structure complementary to the replicated master structure of the master structure varnish is molded into the topcoat,

wherein the topcoat having the structure complementary to the replicated master structure of the master structure varnish forms a layer of a transfer ply, the transfer ply being arranged on the carrier film and detachable from the carrier film, and

wherein the transfer ply has further layers arranged on the side of the topcoat facing away from the carrier film, the further layers of the transfer ply arranged on the side of the topcoat facing away from the carrier film having a stretchability of at least 80% of a stretchability of the topcoat, and

wherein the master structure varnish has components curable by UV radiation, and

wherein the topcoat is formed from polymers selected individually or in combination from:

polymethyl acrylates, polymethyl methacrylates, polyvinylidene flouride, copolymers of polymethyl acrylates and polyvinylidene fluoride, copolymers of polymethyl methacrylate and polyvinylidene fluoride,

and/or

polyol, polyurethane (PU), copolymers of polyurethane (PU) and polyol, copolymers of polyurethane (PU) and polyacrylate.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the master structure varnish and/or the topcoat has a relief structure, at least in areas.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the relief structure has a design and/or one or more of the following profile shapes: rectangular profiles, sinusoidal profiles, sawtooth profiles, hemispherical profiles or blazed structures.

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the relief structure is formed as or comprises a matte structure, a diffractive structure, a refractive structure and/or a macrostructure.

5 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the relief structure comprises a microstructure.

6 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the relief structure comprises a macrostructure.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier film has a carrier layer, wherein the carrier layer is arranged on the side of the carrier film facing away from the transfer ply.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the carrier layer is formed from ABS, ABS/PC, PET, PC, PMMA, PE and/or PP and/or wherein the layer thickness of the carrier layer is selected from a range of from 5 μm to 100 μm.

9 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein a promoter layer is arranged in the carrier film between the master structure varnish and the carrier layer.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the promoter layer of the carrier film has components selected individually or in combination from: crosslinkable acrylates, polyester resins, alkyd resins as well as their modifications, amino resins, amido resins, phenolic resins.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the replicated master structure has a structure depth from a range of from 0.2 μm to 30 μm.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the master structure varnish has components curable by a thermoplastic varnish.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the topcoat is formed transparent and/or has a transmittance of at least 25%.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the topcoat has a stretchability of at least 50%.

15 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the topcoat has a temperature resistance of up to 250° C.

16 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a detachment layer is arranged between the topcoat and the master structure varnish and/or wherein the topcoat and/or the master structure varnish have additives which reduce the separating force which is necessary in order to detach the master structure varnish from the topcoat.

17 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer ply has a promoter layer, wherein the promoter layer is arranged on the side of the topcoat facing away from the carrier film.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the promoter layer of the transfer ply has components selected individually or in combination from: crosslinkable acrylates, polyester resins, alkyd resins as well as their modifications, amino resins, amido resins, phenolic resins.

19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the promoter layer of the transfer ply has a layer thickness in the range of from 0.1 μm to 10 μm.

20 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer film has at least one decorative layer, at least one metalization, at least one replication layer and/or at least one adhesive layer or primer layer.

21 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the master structure varnish is applied to a carrier layer of the carrier film.

22 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the master structure varnish is applied to the carrier layer over the whole surface or partially.

23 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein a further varnish is applied at least in areas to the carrier layer in areas where no master structure varnish is applied.

24 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein further layers are applied to the topcoat and/or wherein a promoter layer is printed on the carrier layer.

25 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the master structure varnish is crosslinked and/or cured during the production of the transfer film.

26 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one metalization is applied to the transfer ply.

27 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the topcoat is crosslinked and/or cured, during the production of the transfer film.

28 . A method for producing a plastic article or film article decorated with a transfer ply of a transfer film with the following steps:

providing a transfer film comprising a carrier film and a transfer ply arranged on the carrier film and detachable from the carrier film, the carrier film comprising a master structure varnish and the transfer ply comprising a topcoat, wherein the master structure varnish is arranged on the carrier film on its side facing the transfer ply and has a replicated master structure and wherein the topcoat comprises a structuring which has a structure complementary to the replicated master structure,

peeling the carrier film, together with the replicated master structure, off the transfer ply of the transfer film,

arranging the transfer film in an injection mold,

back-injection molding the transfer film with a plastic injection-molding material,

obtaining a decorated plastic article or a film article,

wherein the transfer ply has layers arranged on the side of the topcoat facing away from the carrier film, the layers of the transfer ply arranged on the side of the topcoat facing away from the carrier film having a stretchability of at least 80% of a stretchability of the topcoat, and

wherein the master structure varnish has components curable by UV radiation, and

wherein the topcoat is formed from polymers selected individually or in combination from:

polymethyl acrylates, polymethyl methacrylates, polyvinylidene flouride, copolymers of polymethyl acrylates and polyvinylidene fluoride, copolymers of polymethyl methacrylate and polyvinylidene fluoride,

and/or

polyol, polyurethane (PU), copolymers of polyurethane (PU) and polvol, copolymers of polyurethane (PU) and polyacrylate.

29 . The method according to claim 28 , wherein the method comprises the further step:

applying, the transfer film to a substrate.

30 . The method according to claim 29 , wherein the method comprises the further step:

temporarily storing and/or rolling up the transfer film comprising the substrate.

31 . The method according to claim 28 , wherein the structure depth of the transfer film is reduced by at most 30%.

32 . The method according to claim 28 , wherein the method comprises the further step:

heating the transfer film.

33 . The method according to claim 28 , wherein the method comprises the further step:

fixing the transfer film, in the injection mold.

34 . The method according to claim 28 , wherein the method comprises the further step:

deforming the transfer film.