Composition, film and related methods

1. A composition that is configured for use in creating non-PVC films, the composition comprising:

a. an emulsion polymer comprising a hybrid of a vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) compolymer and an acrylic; and

b. at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a surfactant, a dispersant, a wetting agent, a plasticizer, a defoamer, a coupling agent, a solvent, a UV absorber, a fire retardant, and a light stabilizer, and

wherein the VAE copolymer is a product based on the copolymerization of vinyl acetate and ethylene in which the vinyl acetate content ranges between 60-95%, and the ethylene content ranges between 5-40% of the total formulation.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion polymer is a water-based emulsion polymer.

3. A film comprising:

a. a strengthening layer; and

b. an ink receptive layer comprising the composition of claim 1 ;

wherein the strengthening layer includes a material that is selected from the group consisting of a cross linkable vinyl acetate copolymer, a VAE emulsion, and a polyurethane emulsion or the blend thereof.

4. The film of claim 3 , wherein the emulsion polymer is a water-based emulsion polymer.

5. The film of claim 3 , wherein the VAE copolymer is crosslinked.

6. The film of claim 5 , wherein the VAE copolymer is crosslinked with polyaziridine or melamine formaldehyde.

7. The film of claim 6 , wherein the VAE copolymer is crosslinked with polyaziridine.

8. A method of making a film, comprising the steps of:

a. coating a substrate with the composition of claim 1 to form a coated substrate.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the emulsion polymer is a water-based emulsion polymer.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

b. drying the composition on the coated substrate; and

c. removing the dried composition from the substrate.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the substrate is a polyethylene terephthalate film.

12. A laminate comprising:

a. a liner;

b. a pressure sensitive adhesive;

c. a strengthening layer; and

d. an ink receptive layer;

wherein the ink receptive layer comprises the composition of claim 1 .

13. The laminate of claim 12 , wherein the emulsion polymer is a water-based emulsion polymer.

14. The laminate of claim 12 , wherein the laminate is a graphics film.

15. The laminate of claim 12 , wherein the strengthening layer includes a material that is selected from the group consisting of a cross linkable vinyl acetate copolymer, a VAE emulsion, and a polyurethane emulsion or the mixture of.

16. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the pigment is TiO 2 .

17. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one additive comprises CaCO 3 .

18. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises the surfactant.

19. A non-PVC film comprising:

a. an emulsion polymer comprising a hybrid of a vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) copolymer and an acrylic; and

b. at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a surfactant, a dispersant, a wetting agent, a plasticizer, a defoamer, a coupling agent, a solvent, a UV absorber, a fire retardant, and a light stabilizer;

wherein the VAE copolymer is a product based on the copolymerization of vinyl acetate and ethylene in which the vinyl acetate content ranges between 60-95% and the ethylene content ranges between 5-40% of the total formulation; and

wherein the film has an ultimate elongation of at least about 50%.

20. The film of claim 19 , wherein the emulsion polymer is a water-based emulsion polymer.

21. The film of claim 19 , wherein the emulsion polymer is crosslinked.

22. The film of claim 21 , wherein the emulsion polymer is crosslinked with polyaziridine or melamine formaldehyde.

23. The film of claim 22 , wherein the emulsion polymer is crosslinked with polyaziridine.

24. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion polymeris crosslinked.

25. The composition of claim 24 , wherein the emulsion polymer is crosslinked with polyaziridine or melamine formaldehyde.

26. The film of claim 25 , wherein the emulsion polymer is crosslinked with polyaziridine.

27. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion polymer consists of the hybrid of the VAE copolymer and the acrylic; and wherein the composition consists of the emulsion polymer and the at least one additive.

28. The composition of claim 27 , wherein the VAE copolymer comprises 75-95% vinyl acetate.

29. The composition of claim 27 , further comprising an acrylic copolymer.

30. The composition of claim 27 , further comprising a polyurethane.

31. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion polymer consists of the hybrid of the VAEcopolymer and the acrylic.