Ribbed film structures with voiding agent created visual characteristics
In one example embodiment, a film includes a coextruded structure having both an extruded ribbed skin layer that includes a plurality of ribs, and a core layer. The ribs are spaced apart by a web that is integral with the ribs. The film also includes a voiding agent in the ribs of the skin layer.
1. A film, comprising:
a coextruded film comprising a skin layer and a core layer; and
a plurality of extruded ribs, where consecutive extruded ribs are spaced apart from each other by thinner portions that are integral with the consecutive extruded ribs; and
wherein:
the skin layer includes a voiding agent;
the core layer is devoid of the voiding agent; and
the extruded ribs have a different color than the thinner portions.
2. The film as recited in claim 1 , wherein the voiding agent is apparent substantially only in the ribs of the skin layer.
3. The film as recited in claim 1 , wherein the voiding agent is one of substantially opaque; translucent; or transparent.
4. The film as recited in claim 3 , wherein the film further comprises a coloring agent in the core layer.
5. The film as recited in claim 4 , wherein the coloring agent is a different color than the voiding agent.
6. The film as recited in claim 1 , wherein there is a visible contrast between the extruded ribs and the thinner portions, and the visible contrast is at least one of: a contrast in color; or a contrast in intensity of color.
7. The film as recited in claim 1 , wherein the voiding agent comprises, in any combination, one or more of: calcium carbonate; magnesium carbonate; barium carbonate; calcium sulfate; magnesium sulfate; barium sulfate; calcium oxide; magnesium oxide; titanium oxide; zinc oxide; aluminum hydroxide; magnesium hydroxide; talc; clay; silica, alumina; mica; glass powder; or starch.
8. The film as recited in claim 1 , wherein the skin layer includes indicia perceptible by one or more senses of a user, and wherein the indicia are one of:
substantially cosmetic in nature; or
indicative of a physical property of the film.
9. The film as recited in claim 8 , wherein the indicia comprise one or more of: corrugations; extruded ribs and thinner portions of contrasting respective colors; substantially white extruded ribs; substantially black extruded ribs; discontinuities in the extruded ribs that have the same color as the extruded ribs; discontinuities in the extruded ribs that have a different color than the extruded ribs; or haziness in the thinner portions.
10. The film as recited in claim 1 , wherein the skin layer includes indicia perceptible by one or more senses of a user, and wherein the indicia are indicative of post-extrusion processing of the film, and the post-extrusion processing comprises one or more of MD stretching, MD ring rolling, TD stretching, or TD ring rolling.
11. The film as recited in claim 10 , wherein the indicia comprise one or more of: corrugations; extruded ribs and thinner portions of contrasting respective colors; substantially white extruded ribs; substantially black extruded ribs; discontinuities in the extruded ribs that have the same color as the extruded ribs; discontinuities in the extruded ribs that have a different color than the extruded ribs; or haziness in the thinner portions.
12. A thermoplastic product at least partly constructed from the film of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic product comprises one of a grocery bag, a trash bag, a sack, a yard waste bag, packaging materials, a feminine hygiene product, a baby diaper, and adult incontinence product, a sanitary napkin, a bandage, a food storage bag, a food storage container, a thermal heat wrap, a facial mask, a cleaning wipe, or a hard surface cleaner.
13. The film as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of intermittent compressions extending long each of the extruded ribs.
14. The film as recited in claim 13 , wherein the intermittent compressions differ in color from portions of the extruded ribs that are not compressed.
15. The film as recited in claim 14 , wherein intersections of the compressions and the extruded ribs provide the extruded ribs with a stitched appearance.
16. A film, comprising:
a coextruded film comprising a skin layer and a core layer, wherein the skin layer includes a voiding agent and the core layer is devoid of the voiding agent; and
a plurality of extruded ribs extending across the film in a first direction, where consecutive extruded ribs are spaced apart from each other by thinner portions that are integral with the consecutive extruded ribs; and
a plurality of compressions extending across the film in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, the plurality of compressions intersecting with the plurality of extruded ribs;
wherein intersections of compressions of the plurality of compressions and the extruded ribs provide the extruded ribs with a stitched appearance.
17. The film of claim 16 , wherein:
portions of the extruded ribs that intersect with the compressions of the plurality of compressions have a first color; and
portions of the extruded ribs that do not intersect with the compressions of the plurality of compressions have a second color differing from the first color.
18. The film of claim 17 , wherein the thinner portions have a third color that differs from the first color and the second color.