Non-continuously laminated structures of thermoplastic films with differing material compositions and functional material properties
A non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films comprises thermoplastic films with differing material compositions and differing functional benefits. In particular, one or more embodiments comprise thermoplastic films that are co-extruded separately and then combined together by a post-extrusion bonding process. The differing composition of the various films of the non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films and the post-extrusion bonding process, provide the structures with the functional benefits of the individual films.
1. A non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films with differing material compositions and functional material properties, comprising:
a first thermoplastic film comprising a first material composition that provides the first thermoplastic film layer with a first functional material property;
a second thermoplastic film layer comprising a second material composition that provides the second thermoplastic film layer with a second functional material property; and
a plurality of non-continuous bonds securing the first thermoplastic film layer directly to the second thermoplastic film layer;
wherein the non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films with differing material compositions and functional material properties demonstrates both the first functional material property and the second functional material property.
2. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first functional material property and the second functional material property are opposing functional material properties.
3. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first and second first thermoplastic film are incrementally stretched.
4. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first functional material property comprises one or more of scuff resistance, tear resistance, toughness, stretch-ability, impact resistance, or high tensile strength; and
the second functional material property comprises another of scuff resistance, tear resistance, toughness, stretch-ability, impact resistance, or high tensile strength.
5. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first thermoplastic film has a first shrink rate and the second thermoplastic film has a second shrink rate.
6. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first material composition comprises a first density; and
the second material composition comprises a second density that differs from the first density.
7. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first material composition comprises a first molecular weight; and
the second material composition comprises a second molecular weight that differs from the first molecular weight.
8. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 1 , wherein the non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films is formed into a bag.
9. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first material composition comprises as a principal component linear low-density polyethylene.
10. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 9 , wherein the second material composition comprises as a principal component a polymer other than linear low-density polyethylene.
11. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 10 , wherein the second material composition comprises as a principal component high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, or polystyrene.
12. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 9 , wherein:
the second material composition comprises as a principal linear low-density polyethylene; and
the second material composition comprises as a filler that the first material composition lacks.
13. A non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films with differing material compositions and functional material properties, comprising:
a first thermoplastic film comprising a first material composition that provides the first thermoplastic film layer with a first functional material property, wherein the first material composition comprises a first polymer as a principal component, a first density, and a first molecular weight;
a second thermoplastic film layer comprising a second material composition that provides the second thermoplastic film layer with a second functional material property, wherein the second material composition comprises one or more of:
a second polymer as a principal component, where the second polymer differs from the first polymer;
a second density, where the second density differs from the first density;
a second molecular weight, where the second molecular weight differs from the first molecular weight; or
an additive that is lacking in the first material composition; and
a plurality of non-continuous bonds securing the first thermoplastic film layer directly to the second thermoplastic film layer.
14. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 13 , wherein the first functional material property and the second functional material property are opposing functional material properties.
15. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 13 , wherein the first material composition comprises as a principal component linear low-density polyethylene.
16. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 13 , wherein one or more of the first and second first thermoplastic film are incrementally stretched.
17. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 13 , wherein:
the first functional material property comprises one or more of scuff resistance, toughness, tear resistance, stretch-ability, impact resistance, or high tensile strength; and
the second functional material property comprises another of scuff resistance, increased, tear resistance, stretch-ability, impact resistance, or high tensile strength.
18. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 13 , wherein the non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films is formed into a bag.
19. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 18 , wherein the first thermoplastic film comprises an outer layer of the bag and the second thermoplastic film comprises an inner layer of the bag.
20. The non-continuously laminated structure of thermoplastic films as recited in claim 18 , wherein the first functional material property comprises scuff resistance and the second functional material property comprises increased toughness.