Multilayer shrink films, labels made therefrom and use thereof

1. A multilayer heat shrink film comprising:

a core layer comprising at least 80 wt. % of one or more alpha-olefin polymers and a first cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), wherein the first COC is less than 5 wt. % of the core layer, and wherein the alpha-olefin polymer of the core layer is selected from a group consisting of propylene-based elastomers having ethylene comprising from 8 to 12 wt. % ethylene, ethylene-based plastomers having a density from 0.85 g/cm 3 to 0.91 g/cm 3 , metallocene-catalyzed copolymers of propylene and ethylene comprising from 2 to 6 wt. % ethylene, and combinations thereof;

two skin layers comprising at least 50 wt. % of a second cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) having a glass transition temperature of from 60 to 120° C.;

flame, corona and/or plasma treatment of at least one of the two skin layers, and

monoaxial orientation in a machine direction of the multilayer heat shrink film to render the multilayer heat shrink film tearable in a transverse direction.

2. The multilayer heat shrink film of claim 1 , wherein the second COC is selected from random copolymers of ethylene or propylene with a cyclic olefin selected from norbornene, norbornene derivative, tetracyclododecene, and/or a derivative of tetracyclododecene.

3. The multilayer heat shrink film of claim 2 , wherein the second COC has a glass transition temperature of from 70 to 80° C.

4. The multilayer heat shrink film of claim 1 , wherein each skin layer comprises at least 90 wt. % of the second COC.

5. The multilayer heat shrink film of claim 1 , wherein the composition of the first and second COC are identical.

6. The multilayer heat shrink film of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the two skin layers comprise printable skin layers.

7. The multilayer heat shrink film of claim 1 , wherein the film comprises perforations.

8. The multilayer heat shrink film of claim 1 comprising a haze value of 20% or less.

9. The multilayer heat shrink film of claim 1 comprising shrinkage 20% or more in an oriented direction.

10. The multilayer heat shrink film of claim 1 comprising clarity and transparency sufficient for viewing reverse printing of labels.

11. The multilayer heat shrink film of claim 1 , further comprising at least one metallization layer deposited on at least one of the two skin layers post-treatment.

12. An article comprising flexible packaging comprising the multilayer heat shrink film of claim 1 .

13. A label comprising the multilayer heat shrink film according to claim 1 .

14. A method comprising: receiving at least one roll of the multilayer heat shrink film of claim 1 ; and converting the at least one roll into one or more labels.

15. A method of making a film comprising:

co-extruding at least 80 wt. % of one or more alpha-olefin polymers and a first cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), wherein the first COC is less than 5 wt. % of the core layer, and wherein the alpha-olefin polymer of the core layer is selected from a group consisting of propylene-based elastomers having ethylene comprising from 8 to 12 wt. % ethylene, ethylene-based plastomers having a density from 0.85 g/cm 3 to 0.91 g/cm 3 , metallocene-catalyzed copolymers of propylene and ethylene comprising from 2 to 6 wt. % ethylene, and combinations thereof; and two skin layers comprising at least 50 wt. % of a second cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) having a glass transition temperature of from 60 to 120° C. to form a co-extrudate; and

monoaxially orienting the film in a machine direction to render the film tearable in a transverse direction, and

flame, corona and/or plasma treating at least one of the two skin layers.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the co-extruding is through a cast die or annular dies.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising blowing or casting the co-extrudate to form the film.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising metallizing, subsequent to the treating, at least one of the two skin layers.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising perforating the film.