IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,308,773
Granted Patent B2
US 9,308,773 · App. 14/233,054 · Granted Apr 12, 2016

Graphic article

Inventors: Ronald S. Steelman (Woodbury, MN); John A. Nielsen (Woodbury, MN); Keith R. Lyon (Hudson, WI)
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
B44C1/00B05D7/00B32B27/00B32B33/00B41M1/30B41M5/0047B41M5/0052B41M5/0064B41M5/5281B44C1/20B44C3/02B32B38/145B32B2307/518B32B2307/712B32B2307/75Y10T428/24802Y10T428/24901
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,308,773
App. No.
14/233,054
Granted
Apr 12, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present application is directed to articles useful as graphic films. Specifically, the present application is directed to an article comprising a film layer, the film layer comprising a polymer blend comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and a cellulose ester, and an ink layer adjacent to at least one surface of the film. In some embodiments, the cellulose ester is a cellulose acetate butyrate. In some embodiments, the cellulose ester is a cellulose acetate propionate.

Claims (77)

1. An article comprising

a film layer, the film layer comprising a polymer blend comprising

a thermoplastic polyurethane and a cellulose ester, wherein the blend is not a multi-phase system; and

an ink layer adjacent to at least one surface of the film;

wherein the film layer further comprises a polyester.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the cellulose ester is a cellulose acetate butyrate.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein the cellulose ester is a cellulose acetate propionate.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein the film layer comprises a plasticizer.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein the film layer is made by a hot melt process.

6. The article of claim 1 comprising an ink receptive layer on the surface of the film layer between the film layer and the ink layer.

7. The article of claim 1 wherein the ink layer is a piezo ink jet ink.

8. The article of claim 1 wherein the ink layer is an ultraviolet curable ink.

9. The article of claim 1 wherein the ink layer is a solvent ink.

10. The article of claim 1 wherein the ink layer is a latex ink.

11. The article of claim 1 wherein the film layer comprises a UV stabilizer.

12. The article of claim 1 wherein the film layer comprises a pigment.

13. The article of claim 1 comprising an adhesive layer adjacent the film layer opposite the ink layer.

14. The article of claim 1 wherein the polymer blend comprises greater than 40% by weight of the thermoplastic polyurethane based on total weight of thermoplastic polyurethane and cellulose ester.

15. An article comprising

a film layer, the film layer comprising a polymer blend comprising

a thermoplastic polyurethane and a cellulose ester wherein the polymer blend comprises greater than 40% by weight of the thermoplastic polyurethane based on total weight of thermoplastic polyurethane and cellulose ester; and

an ink layer adjacent to at least one surface of the film.

16. The article of claim 15 wherein the cellulose ester is a cellulose acetate butyrate.

17. The article of claim 15 wherein the cellulose ester is a cellulose acetate propionate.

18. The article of claim 15 wherein the film layer further comprises a polyester.

19. The article of claim 15 wherein the film layer further comprises a styrene copolymer.

20. The article of claim 19 wherein the styrene copolymer is a styrene acrylonitrile copolymer.

21. The article of claim 15 wherein the film layer comprises a plasticizer.

22. The article of claim 15 wherein the film layer further comprises a poly(meth)acrylate.

23. The article of claim 15 wherein the film layer is made by a hot melt process.

24. The article of claim 15 comprising an ink receptive layer on the surface of the film layer between the film layer and the ink layer.

25. The article of claim 15 wherein the ink layer is a piezo ink jet ink.

26. The article of claim 15 wherein the ink layer is an ultraviolet curable ink.

27. The article of claim 15 wherein the ink layer is a solvent ink.

28. The article of claim 15 wherein the ink layer is a latex ink.

29. The article of claim 15 wherein the film layer comprises a UV stabilizer.

30. The article of claim 15 wherein the film layer comprises a pigment.

31. The article of claim 15 comprising an adhesive layer adjacent the film layer opposite the ink layer.

32. The article of claim 15 wherein the blend is not a multi-phase system.

33. An article comprising

a film layer, the film layer comprising a polymer blend comprising

a thermoplastic polyurethane and a cellulose ester, wherein the blend is not a multi-phase system; and

an ink layer adjacent to at least one surface of the film;

wherein the film layer further comprises a styrene copolymer.

34. The article of claim 33 wherein the cellulose ester is a cellulose acetate butyrate.

35. The article of claim 33 wherein the cellulose ester is a cellulose acetate propionate.

36. The article of claim 33 wherein the styrene copolymer is a styrene acrylonitrile copolymer.

37. The article of claim 33 wherein the film layer comprises a plasticizer.

38. The article of claim 33 wherein the film layer further comprises a poly(meth)acrylate.

39. The article of claim 33 wherein the film layer is made by a hot melt process.

40. The article of claim 33 comprising an ink receptive layer on the surface of the film layer between the film layer and the ink layer.

41. The article of claim 33 wherein the ink layer is a piezo ink-jet ink.

42. The article of claim 33 wherein the ink layer is an ultraviolet curable ink.

43. The article of claim 33 wherein the ink layer is a solvent ink.

44. The article of claim 33 wherein the ink layer is a latex ink.

45. The article of claim 33 wherein the film layer comprises a UV stabilizer.

46. The article of claim 33 wherein the film layer comprises a pigment.

47. The article of claim 33 comprising an adhesive layer adjacent the film layer opposite the ink layer.

48. The article of claim 33 wherein the polymer blend comprises greater than 40% by weight of the thermoplastic polyurethane based on total weight of thermoplastic polyurethane and cellulose ester.

49. An article comprising

a film layer, the film layer comprising a polymer blend comprising

a thermoplastic polyurethane and a cellulose ester, wherein the blend is not a multi-phase system; and

an ink layer adjacent to at least one surface of the film;

wherein the film layer further comprises a poly(meth)acrylate.

50. The article of claim 49 wherein the cellulose ester is a cellulose acetate butyrate.

51. The article of claim 49 wherein the cellulose ester is a cellulose acetate propionate.

52. The article of claim 49 wherein the film layer comprises a plasticizer.

53. The article of claim 49 wherein the film layer is made by a hot melt process.

54. The article of claim 49 comprising an ink receptive layer on the surface of the film layer between the film layer and the ink layer.

55. The article of claim 49 wherein the ink layer is a piezo ink-jet ink.

56. The article of claim 49 wherein the ink layer is an ultraviolet curable ink.

57. The article of claim 49 wherein the ink layer is a solvent ink.

58. The article of claim 49 wherein the ink layer is a latex ink.

59. The article of claim 49 wherein the film layer comprises a UV stabilizer.

60. The article of claim 49 wherein the film layer comprises a pigment.

61. The article of claim 49 comprising an adhesive layer adjacent the film layer opposite the ink layer.

62. The article of claim 49 wherein the polymer blend comprises greater than 40% by weight of the thermoplastic polyurethane based on total weight of thermoplastic polyurethane and cellulose ester.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2014
From: STEELMAN, RONALD S.; NIELSEN, JOHN A.; LYON, KEITH R.
To: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 031976/0838 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61514308 · Aug 2, 2011
Related Publication 20140141214A1 · May 22, 2014