Extensible Heat Transfer Labels Formed from Energy Curable Compositions
A heat transfer label assembly includes a label portion including an energy cured ink and releasably supported on a carrier. At least a portion of the label portion is extensible at least about 5% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the label portion.
1 . A heat transfer label assembly, comprising:
a label portion including an energy cured ink, the label portion being releasably supported on a carrier, wherein the label portion is extensible at least about 5% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the label portion.
2 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 1 , wherein the energy cured ink comprises a thermoset.
3 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 2 , wherein the thermoset comprises an acrylic resin.
4 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 2 , wherein the energy cured ink further comprises a thermoplastic resin.
5 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 4 , wherein the thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy terminated epoxidized 1,3 polybutadiene, liquid polybutadiene polymer, epoxidized soybean and linseed fatty acid esters, epoxy plasticizers, and any combination thereof.
6 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 1 , wherein the label portion further includes an energy cured protective coating.
7 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 6 , wherein the energy cured protective coating comprises a thermoset.
8 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 7 , wherein the thermoset comprises an acrylic resin.
9 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 6 , wherein the energy cured protective coating further comprises a thermoplastic resin.
10 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 9 , wherein the thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy terminated epoxidized 1,3 polybutadiene, liquid polybutadiene polymer, epoxidized soybean and linseed fatty acid esters, epoxy plasticizers, and any combination thereof.
11 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 1 , wherein the label portion is extensible from about 6% to about 20% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the label portion.
12 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 1 , wherein the label portion is extensible from about 8% to about 15% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the label portion.
13 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 1 , wherein the energy cured ink is cured by ultraviolet light.
14 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 1 , wherein the energy cured ink is cured by electron beam radiation.
15 . A heat transfer label assembly, comprising:
a heat transfer label portion including at least one of a cured protective coating and a cured ink, the at least one of the cured protective coating and the cured ink comprising a thermoset; and
a release portion releasbly joined to the heat transfer label portion,
wherein the at least one of the cured protective coating and the cured ink is extensible at least about 5% in at least one direction without forming substantial defects in the heat transfer label portion.
16 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 15 , wherein the thermoset of the at least one of the cured protective coating and the cured ink comprises an acrylic resin.
17 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the cured protective coating and the cured ink further comprises a thermoplastic resin.
18 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 17 , wherein the thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy terminated epoxidized 1,3 polybutadiene, liquid polybutadiene polymer, epoxidized soybean and linseed fatty acid esters, epoxy plasticizers, and any combination thereof.
19 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 15 , wherein the heat transfer label portion is extensible from about 6% to about 20% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the heat transfer label portion.
20 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 15 , wherein the heat transfer label portion is extensible from about 8% to about 15% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the heat transfer label portion.
21 . The heat transfer label assembly of claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the cured protective coating and the cured ink is energy cured.
22 . A heat transfer label, comprising:
a protective coating;
a layer of adhesive; and
an ink disposed between the protective coating and the layer of adhesive, the ink being configured to define at least one of a graphic and text,
wherein
the protective coating and the ink each independently comprise a thermoset, and
the protective coating and ink are each extensible at least about 5% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the at least one of the graphic and text.
23 . The heat transfer label of claim 22 , wherein the thermoset of at least one of the protective coating and the ink comprises an acrylic resin.
24 . The heat transfer label of claim 23 , wherein at least one of the protective coating and the ink further comprises a thermoplastic resin.
25 . The heat transfer label of claim 24 , wherein the thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy terminated epoxidized 1 , 3 polybutadiene, liquid polybutadiene polymer, epoxidized soybean and linseed fatty acid esters, epoxy plasticizers, and any combination thereof.
26 . The heat transfer label of claim 22 , wherein the protective coating and ink are each extensible from about 6% to about 20% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the at least one of the graphic and text.
27 . The heat transfer label of claim 22 , wherein the protective coating and ink are each extensible from about 8% to about 15% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the at least one of the graphic and text.
28 . The heat transfer label of claim 22 , in combination with a container, wherein the label is mounted to the container.
29 . A method of making a heat transfer label assembly, the method comprising:
depositing a protective coating composition onto a releasable carrier;
curing the protective coating composition to form a cured protective coating;
depositing an ink composition onto the cured protective coating;
curing the ink composition to form a cured ink; and
depositing an adhesive onto the cured ink,
wherein
the cured protective coating, cured ink, and adhesive define a label portion of the heat transfer label assembly, and
the cured protective coating and cured ink are extensible at least about 5% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the label portion.
30 . A method of decorating a container, the method comprising:
contacting a heat transfer label with a container, the heat transfer label comprising
an adhesive layer for joining the heat transfer label to the container,
a protective coating, and
ink disposed between the adhesive layer and protective coating, the ink defining decoration for decorating the container,
wherein the protective coating and ink each independently comprise a thermoset; and
stretching the heat transfer label while contacting the heat transfer label with the container, so that at least a portion of the heat transfer label is stretched at least about 5% in at least one direction without creating substantial defects in the decoration.