Laminate with a heat-activatable expandable layer
View Patent ↗A laminate including a plurality of layers, wherein one of the layers is a heat-activatable expandable layer including a thermally expandable composition. The heat-activatable expandable layer includes a plurality of microcapsules containing the thermally expandable composition. This thermally expandable composition includes an easily volatilizable hydrocarbon, and a binder resin. When subjected to high temperatures during the process of applying a label, the microcapsules rupture and the thermally expandable composition “foams,” which can be used to provide a texture to the label, and can raise or surround the graphics of the label.
1. A label comprising:
a plurality of layers, said plurality of layers including
a heat-activatable expandable layer having a first surface and a second surface, said second surface being opposite said first surface, wherein said expandable layer includes a composition comprising a binder resin and a solvent, and wherein said binder resin is present in a range of about 50% (wt.) to about 80% (wt.) of said expandable layer, and said solvent is present in a range of up to about 20% (wt.) of said expandable layer;
an adhesive layer, said adhesive layer being separate and distinct from said heat-activatable expandable layer, and said adhesive layer being disposed in direct contact with said first surface of said heat-activatable expandable layer; and
an ink layer having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface of said ink layer being disposed proximal to said second surface of said heat-activatable expandable layer such that said heat-activatable expandable layer is positioned between said ink layer and said adhesive layer; and
wherein said second surface of said ink layer is:
(a) the outermost surface of the label, when the label is applied to an article; or
(b) in direct contact with a wax layer, the wax layer being the outermost surface of the label when the label is applied to an article; or
(c) in direct contact with a protective lacquer layer.
2. The label of claim 1 , wherein said adhesive layer is a heat transfer adhesive layer.
3. The label of claim 2 , wherein said composition further comprises a colorant.
4. The label of claim 3 , wherein said colorant is present in a range of about 1% (wt.) to about 5% (wt.) of said expandable layer.
5. The label of claim 3 , wherein the colorant is chosen from a nonionic water-based pigment dye and an anionic dye.
6. The label of claim 2 , wherein said composition is associated with a plurality of microspheres.
7. The label of claim 6 , wherein said microspheres are present in a range of about 10% (wt.) to about 50% (wt.) of said expandable layer.
8. The label of claim 6 , wherein said microspheres include a volatilizable hydrocarbon.
9. The label of claim 6 , wherein said microspheres encapsulate a gas.
10. The label of claim 9 , wherein said gas is isobutane.
11. The label of claim 6 , wherein said composition is disposed on an outer surface of said microspheres.
12. The label of claim 6 , wherein said microspheres are heat-rupturable.
13. The label of claim 12 , wherein said microspheres are adapted to rupture at temperatures at or above 180° F.
14. The label of claim 2 , wherein said binder resin is chosen from acrylic binders, vinyl acrylic copolymer binders, vinyl acetate homopolymer binders, styrene acrylic binders, and phenoxy binders.
15. The label of claim 2 , wherein the solvent is chosen from distilled water and isopropanol.
16. The label of claim 1 , further comprising a wax release layer.
17. The label of claim 16 , wherein said expandable layer is disposed between said adhesive layer and said wax release layer.
18. The label of claim 17 , wherein said wax release layer is in contact with said expandable layer.
19. The label of claim 16 , wherein the wax release layer includes material selected from paraffin, montan wax, and microcrystalline wax.
20. The label of claim 16 , wherein said expandable layer is adjacent said ink layer such that said ink layer is in contact with said expandable layer.
21. The label of claim 16 , wherein said expandable layer is adjacent said ink layer such that said expandable layer intercalates around said ink layer.
22. The label of claim 16 , wherein said expandable layer is disposed between said ink layer and said adhesive layer.
23. The label of claim 16 , wherein said ink layer includes material selected from polyamides and polyesters.
24. The label of claim 16 , further comprising a protective layer.
25. The label of claim 24 , wherein said protective layer is disposed between said wax release layer and said ink layer.
26. The label of claim 24 , wherein said protective layer includes polyester.
27. The label of claim 1 , further comprising a protective layer.
28. The label of claim 1 , wherein said adhesive layer is adapted to contact an article to which the label is to be applied.
29. The label of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer includes a polyamide.
30. The label of claim 1 , wherein said tactile feature imparted by said expandable layer is substantially similar to a second tactile feature of a surface of an article to which the label is applied.
31. The label of claim 1 , wherein the expandable layer is in the form of a pattern or design to provide a graphic, text, or other decoration that is less than the surface area of the label.
32. The label of claim 1 , wherein said heat-activatable expandable layer, when in a heat-activated state, provides at least a tactile feature.