EP2132033A1

EP2132033A1 - Film and method for producing a film for applying lacquer and a decorative layer to an object

Info

Publication number: EP2132033A1
Application number: EP07723606A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maximilian Zaher
Original assignee: DeMaxZ AG
Current assignee: DeMaxZ AG
Priority date: 2007-03-26
Filing date: 2007-03-26
Publication date: 2009-12-16
Also published as: WO2008116485A1; KR20100014619A

Abstract

The invention relates to a film that can be used to apply a lacquer (7) and/or a decorative layer (6) to an object. Said film (1) consists of three layers, a first layer (4), a second layer (3), arranged on top of the first layer (4), and a third layer (2), arranged on top of the second layer (3). The second layer (3) has a lower rigidity than the first (4) and third (2) layer.

Description

And method of making a film for applying paint and decor to an object

description

The present invention relates to a film and a method for producing a film, which can be used to apply paint and / or decor to an object, and which consists of at least three layers, the film comprising a first layer, a second layer, which is arranged above the first layer, and a third layer which is arranged above the second layer.

Films having a so-called "release" property are known from the prior art, for example, the patents EP 1 053 793 A1 and EP 0 573 676 B. Both papers and films are known from the prior art were made of resins and the surfaces were treated so that the film or paper has "release" properties. If a paint or decorative layer with "release" properties is applied to such a film, then these can be replaced on an object to be decorated.

The document EP 0 573 676 B1 discloses the use of a carrier with "release" properties for applying color decoration to a substrate by first applying lacquer and optionally dye to a support with "release" properties. Thereafter, a partial crosslinking of the paint is carried out. Subsequently, the partially crosslinked lacquer, if appropriate including the dye, is transferred to the substrate to be decorated or coated, and complete crosslinking of the lacquer is carried out.

The document EP 1 053 793 A1 discloses a method of applying paint and decor to an article by means of a film having a "release" property, wherein an adhesive layer is applied to the paint and the decoration of the "release" film is applied. When the layers are applied to an object, the adhesive layer is in direct contact with the object.

Also known in the art are "release" films made from a single material, such as polypropylene, and such known films have a thickness of up to 35 microns.

A disadvantage of the known films is that they have a high rigidity. Such films are difficult to machine process. In particular, when printing multi-dimensional objects, for example, when two sides of an object to be printed with a decor and a paint, it comes with machine processing, especially at high processing speeds, wrinkling of the film.

It is an object of the present invention, a film that can be used to apply paint and / or decor to an object, and a method of producing a film that can be used to paint and / or decor on a Object to provide, in which, without wrinkling, can be applied by machine located on the paint and / or decor on an object.

This object is achieved by a film of the type described at the beginning, in which the second layer has a lower rigidity than the first and the third layer.

Since, in the film according to the invention, the second layer lying between the first and the third layer has a lower rigidity than the first and the third layer, a film is provided which on the one hand has the necessary flexibility for further processing by machine, on the other hand however, has such a high rigidity that it does not wrinkle on further machine processing. Known films, which consist of only one layer, ie a material In particular, at high processing speeds, such as when the film passes through a printing machine at high speed, wrinkles occur. Thus, the present invention also provides a film which can be machine processed at high speed without forming wrinkles. The film according to the invention is preferably usable for the "release" technique and does not require an adhesive or an adhesive layer Another advantage of the film according to the invention is that it does not shrink or form bubbles even in the case of further mechanical processing with high throughput speed Properties of the film according to the invention make it possible to form it with a width of up to 60 cm, Preferably, the film according to the invention has a width of 3 cm to 60 cm.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first and third layers of the film have the same rigidity. There is thus proposed a sandwich structure in which two solid layers having a high rigidity include a layer having a lower rigidity. This structure can be used advantageously for use in printing machines with high throughput speeds. With the aid of the film according to the invention, throughput speeds of up to 45 meters per minute can be achieved.

Preferably, the first and third layers of the film are polypropylene and the second layer is a polypropylene foam. Polypropylene has the property of higher stiffness than polypropylene foam. Polypropylene is particularly well suited for the "release" technique, as polypropylene does not have good adhesive properties, and consequently a paint or decorative layer applied to the polypropylene film can advantageously be removed from the film again with the aid of the "release" technique and applied to the object. The film consisting of polypropylene and polypropylene foam according to the invention additionally has the advantage over a film consisting exclusively of polypropylene in that it can be better adapted to the object in geometrically complex objects to be printed. The film consisting of polypropylene and polypropylene foam has a total of one higher stretch stiffness than a pure polypropylene film, and thus can be better folded or bent, with wrinkling, especially at a high machining speed is avoided.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the first and third layers are polyethylene and the second layer is polyethylene foam. Polyethylene has the property that this substance is softer than polypropylene. Thus, polyethylene is harder to print than polypropylene. Polyethylene or a polyethylene combination, however, have advantages when an object with a complex geometry, for example an object on several sides, is to be printed using only one film. Such a foam of a polyethylene combination according to the invention can be bent more easily than a film consisting solely of polypropylene and can thus be adapted more easily to geometrically complex objects to all sides of the object to be printed.

With regard to the thickness of the film according to the invention, an advantageous embodiment provides that it is more than 35 μm, but not more than 100 μm. As a result of this increased thickness of the film structure than in the case of known films, wrinkles are avoided, in particular during further mechanical processing of the film at high throughput speed in a machine. Good results were obtained with a thickness of the film of 50 microns.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the film additionally has a decor on the third layer.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the film on the decor on a lacquer layer.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the film is suitable for applying a decoration and / or a lacquer layer to a multi-dimensional object by means of a "release" technique. For example, a pattern, a color layer or a combination of a color layer with a pattern act. However, the decor is not limited to the aforementioned examples. In the paint, it is preferable to use PVC ink or a disperse dye having a high proportion of resin.

Since the film according to the invention is formed bendable, yet has the necessary rigidity, so that wrinkling is avoided in machine further processing of the film, this film can be preferably used by "release" technique a decor and / or a lacquer layer on a multi-dimensional object In known devices for applying a decoration to a multi-dimensional object, one film is used for each side of the object to be printed, for example, if a floor panel is to be printed on two sides with a décor, according to known devices a first film is for the main side Thus, with the film according to the invention, it is possible to print a multidimensional object with only one film, and with the aid of the film according to the invention it is even conceivable to completely cover a multi-dimensional object, ie 360 °, z Consequently, cost can be saved with the aid of the film according to the invention since only one device for a film is necessary in order to print on the multidimensional object with the aid of the "release" technique. In addition, with the film according to the invention also a high throughput speed without wrinkling is possible.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the third layer is subjected to a corona treatment. The corona treatment is an electronic process for the pretreatment of plastic films, in which the apolar structure of the plastic film is converted by oxidation into a polar one. The plastic film is guided past a grounded metal roller at a spray electrode. The spark discharges generated between the discharge electrodes and the grounded metal roller cause the formation of so-called "active centers" on the surface of the plastic film then the decorative or color layer are anchored. In particular, polypropylene, polyethylene and polyester have a non-polar, good electrical insulating and water-repellent surface. Such surfaces are generally poorly wettable by printing inks. With the help of corona treatment, it is thus possible to apply decoration and / or lacquer to the film according to the invention.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the surface tension energy of the film according to the invention in the corona treatment is 35 to 45 Dyne. The corona treatment must be done in such a way that on the one hand holds the decor on the film, on the other hand, the decor, however, also with the help of "release" technology can be detached from the film and applied to an object The surface tension energy is Coronation treatment is a critical parameter, and the surface tension energy must be set in such a way that the "release" technique is possible. If there is too much adhesion to the film, it may happen that the decoration can no longer be removed from the film by means of a "release" technique and consequently can not be applied to the object, but if the adhesion to the film is too low If so, the decor may be insufficiently applied to the film, which may result in blurring of the decoration on the object to be printed Good adhesion performance was achieved at 38 Dyne for the surface tension energy in the corona treatment.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the film, the corona treatment is carried out so that the decoration can be applied to the third layer of the film and then by means of "release" technique on the object.

The object stated at the outset is also achieved by a method in which a first layer is arranged with a second layer, which is arranged above the first layer, and with a third layer, which is arranged above the second layer coextruded, wherein the second layer has a lower rigidity than the first and third layers. Coextrusion is a process in which two or more different plastics are pressed through several nozzles. For this purpose, the plastics are first melted by means of separate extruders by means of heating and internal friction and homogenized. Furthermore, in the extruders of the necessary for the flow through the nozzle pressure is built up. By pumping the various plastics through separate extruders and then fusing the various materials, the film is made.

The invention will be explained below by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. They show:

Figure 1 is a side view of a film according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of a corona treatment of a film according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a side view of a film according to the invention with a decor; and

Figure 4 is a side view of a film according to the invention with a lacquer layer.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a film 1 according to the invention. The film 1 consists of a first layer 4, a second layer 3 arranged above the first layer and a third layer 2 arranged above the second layer. The first layer 4 consists of polypropylene, the second layer 3 located in the middle consists of polypropylene Foam and the third layer 2 again consists of polypropylene. This "Sandwicrf" structure was made using a coextrusion process. In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the film 1 has a thickness D of 50 μm. Thicknesses of more than 35 μm to max. times 100 μm. The film 1 shown in Fig. 1 is designed to print on two sides of an object with decoration by means of "release" technique, in order to enable effective printing of objects, the film 1 wound on a roll (not shown) must be coated with With the help of the "sandwich" structure of the film 1 shown in Figure 1 consisting of polypropylene 2, 4 and polypropylene foam 3 ensures that the film 1, the printing machine with high throughput speeds, ie 5 to 45 m / min, wherein wrinkling or shrinkage of the film 1 is avoided. Moreover, with the film according to the invention, it is possible to bend or fold it laterally so that both the main side of an object to be printed and the side surface can be printed using only a single film. If sharp edges of a multi-dimensional object are to be printed with a décor, a polyethylene mixture is preferably used instead of polypropylene since a polyethylene mixture has a lower rigidity than polypropylene.

FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of a corona treatment 5 of the film shown in FIG. The third layer 2 of the film is subjected to a corona treatment 5. The corona treatment 5 is carried out according to the invention in a manner such that the film can be printed with a decor, but the decoration is removable again in order to be able to print it on an object (not shown).

In the corona treatment 5, the surface tension energy on the third layer 2 of the film is 38 Dyne. This is a preferred value for a weak corona treatment in which the film is printable with a decor, i. the film has a sufficient adhesion property, yet the decor can then be removed again by means of "release" technique of the film and applied to an object.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a film according to the invention, in which, after the corona treatment 5, the third layer 2 of the film has an adhesion property. has, so that a decor 6, can be applied to the third layer 2. By Corona treatment, it is thus possible that a decor 6 can be applied to polypropylene, which basically has a poor adhesive property. The decoration is a PVC printing ink in the illustrated embodiment. Other inks, such as emulsion paints, are also conceivable.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the film according to the invention, in which a lacquer layer 7 has additionally been applied to the decor 6. The lacquer layer in the present embodiment is a standard lacquer which is referred to as

Base layer is applied to the object to be printed with the decor. This primer is only optional.

The mechanical properties of the film according to the invention are consequently designed such that wrinkling or shrinkage of the film is avoided on the one hand, and the film is still flexible in such a way that multi-dimensional objects are printed with a décor with the aid of only one film can. Another advantage of the film 1 according to the invention is that no adhesive is necessary for printing a multi-dimensional object with a decoration.

Claims

claims

1. film (1) which can be used to apply lacquer (7) and / or decor (6) to an object, and which consists of at least three layers,

5, a first layer (4), a second layer (3) disposed above the first layer (4), and a third layer (2) disposed above the second layer (3) are characterized in that the second layer (3) has a lower rigidity than the first (4) and the third (2) layer.

A film according to claim 1, wherein said first (4) and third (2) layers have the same rigidity.

A film according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first (4) and third (2) layers are polypropylene and the second layer (3) is polypropylene foam. 0

A film according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the first (4) and third (2) layers are polyethylene and the second layer (3) is polyethylene foam.

5 5. A film according to any one of the preceding claims, whose thickness (D) is more than 35 microns and not more than 100 microns, preferably 50 microns.

6. Film according to one of the preceding claims, which additionally on the third layer (2) has a decor (6). 0

7. Film according to claim 6, which on the decor (6) has a lacquer layer (7).

8. Film according to one of the preceding claims, which is adapted to a 5 Decor (6) and / or a lacquer layer (7) by means of "release" technique applied to a multi-dimensional object.

9. Film according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the third layer (2) has been subjected to a corona treatment (5).

10

A film according to claim 9, wherein the surface tension energy in the corona treatment (5) is 35-45 Dyne, preferably 38 Dyne.

11. A film according to any one of claims 9 or 10, wherein the corona treatment i5 (5) is carried out so that the decor (6) is applied to the third layer (2) of the film and then by means of "release" technique on the object can be.

12. A method of producing a film that can be used to apply lacquer (7) and / or decor (6) to an object, comprising at least the one

Method steps: coextruding a first layer (4) with a second layer (3), which is arranged above the first layer (4), and with a third layer (2) which is arranged above the second layer (3) characterized in that the second layer (3) has a lower rigidity than the first (4) and the third (2) layer.

A method of producing a film according to claim 12, wherein said first (4) and third (2) layers have the same rigidity. 0

A method of producing a film according to any one of claims 12 or 13, wherein said first (4) and third (2) layers are polypropylene and said second layer (3) is polypropylene foam.

A method of producing a film according to any of claims 12-13, wherein the first (4) and third (2) layers are polyethylene and the second layer (3) is polyethylene foam.

16. A method for producing a film according to any one of claims 12 to 15, lo whose thickness (D) is more than 35 microns and not more than 100 microns, preferably 50 microns.

17. A method for producing a film according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein additionally on the third layer (2) a decor (6) is applied.5

18. A method for producing a film according to claim 17, wherein on the decor (6) a lacquer layer (7) is applied.

19. A method for producing a film according to any one of claims 12 to 18, o which is suitable decor (6) and / or a lacquer layer (7) by means of "Re-

Iease "technique on a multi-dimensional object.

20. A method for producing a film according to any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein the third layer (2) is subjected to a corona treatment (5).

21. A method of producing a film according to claim 20, wherein the surface tension energy in the corona treatment (5) is 35-45 Dyne, preferably 38 Dyne.

22. A method for producing a film according to any one of claims 20 or 21, wherein the corona treatment is carried out so that the decor (6) on the third layer (2) of the film and then by means of "release" technique can be applied to the object.