Pressure-sensitive label
A pressure sensitive label and method for preparing same, the pressure sensitive label comprising: (a) a support portion, said support portion including at least a carrier layer; and (b) a transfer portion over said support portion for transfer of the transfer portion from the support portion to an article upon application of pressure to the transfer portion while the transfer portion is in contact with the article. The transfer portion may include at least (i) a printable layer in confronting relationship with the carrier layer, and (2) an ink layer disposed between the printable layer and the carrier layer. The transfer portion may include at least (i) a printable layer in confronting relationship with the carrier layer, and (2) an ink layer disposed between the printable layer and the carrier layer.
1 . A pressure sensitive label comprising:
(a) a support portion, said support portion including at least a carrier layer; and
(b) a transfer portion over said support portion for transfer of the transfer portion to an article while the transfer portion is in contact with the article, said transfer portion including at least:
(i) a printable layer in confronting relationship with the carrier layer, wherein the printable layer includes a base resin chosen from vinyl, acrylic, urethane, epoxy, polyester, and alkyd, and is solvent-based, water-based, or ultraviolet curable; and
(ii) an ink layer disposed between the printable layer and the carrier layer, wherein the ink layer comprises about 25 wt % to about 35 wt % ethanol, about 20 wt % to about 25 wt % propylene glycol methyl ether, about 15 wt % to about 20 wt % propyl acetate, about 15 wt % to about 20 wt % isopropanol, and about 3 wt % to about 5 wt % aluminum flake, wherein the ink composition is protected by the printable layer following transfer of the transfer portion to an article.
2 . The pressure sensitive label of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer positioned such that said printable layer is between said ink layer and said adhesive layer.
3 . The pressure sensitive label of claim 1 , further comprising a release layer positioned such that said carrier layer is between said ink layer and said release layer.
4 . The pressure sensitive label of claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer has a surface tension that allows the ink layer to releasably bond thereto.
5 . The pressure sensitive label of claim 4 , wherein the surface of the carrier layer that contacts the ink layer has a dyne level below about 32.
6 . The pressure sensitive label of claim 4 , wherein the carrier layer comprises polypropylene.
7 . The pressure sensitive label of claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer is chosen from plastic film, foil, parchment, and paper.
8 . The pressure sensitive label of claim 1 , wherein the acrylic of the base resin includes about 30 wt % to about 50 wt % of a triacrylate ester monomer, about 10 wt % to about 12.5 wt % of a diacrylate ester monomer, about 10 wt % to about 12.5 wt % of an aromatic urethane acrylate, about 10 wt % to about 12.5 wt % of a difunctional acrylate, about 5 wt % to about 7 wt % of an acrylate oligomer, about 3 wt % to about 5 wt % of triethanolamine, and about 1 wt % to about 2 wt % of 4-phenylbenzophenone.
9 . The pressure sensitive label of claim 2 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises about 37.5 wt % to about 80 wt % acrylate, and about 2.5 wt % to about 10 wt % of a photoinitiator.
10 . The pressure sensitive label of claim 3 , wherein the release layer comprises dimethyl siloxane and silicone.
11 . The pressure sensitive label of claim 1 , wherein said label does not include any release layer between said carrier layer and said ink layer.
12 . The pressure sensitive label of claim 1 , wherein said ink layer is UV-curable.
13 . The pressure sensitive label of claim 1 , wherein said printable layer is water-based or UV-curable.
14 . The pressure sensitive label of claim 1 , wherein said ink layer is in contact with said carrier layer.
15 . A pressure sensitive label comprising:
(a) a support portion, said support portion including at least a carrier layer; and
(b) a transfer portion over said support portion for transfer of the transfer portion to an article while the transfer portion is in contact with the article, said transfer portion including at least:
(i) a printable layer in confronting relationship with the carrier layer, wherein the printable layer includes a base resin chosen from vinyl, acrylic, urethane, epoxy, polyester, and alkyd, and is solvent-based, water-based, or ultraviolet curable; and
(ii) an ink layer disposed between the printable layer and the carrier layer, wherein the ink layer comprises about 25 wt % to about 35 wt % ethanol, about 20 wt % to about 25 wt % propylene glycol methyl ether, about 15 wt % to about 20 wt % propyl acetate, about 15 wt % to about 20 wt % isopropanol, and about 3 wt % to about 5 wt % aluminum flake wherein the ink layer is protected by the printable layer following transfer of the transfer portion to an article.