ES2538253T3 - Stratified composite material for card manufacturing - Google Patents

Abstract

Composite stratified material for cards (10), in particular cards with integrated circuit, cards with magnetic stripe, identification cards and the like, which includes: - an inner layer (2) which is provided with a metallic layer (3) throughout its entire surface, at least on one side, - a first plastic layer (4a, 4b) on each face of the inner layer (2), at least the first plastic layer (4a) disposed on the metal layer being transparent ( 3) of the inner layer (2), and - a second plastic layer (5a, 5b) on each of the outer faces of the first plastic layers (4a, 4b), at least the second layer being transparent of plastic (5a) arranged on the first layer of transparent plastic (4a) and presenting a printed image (6a), at least on one side.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Stratified composite material for card manufacturing

[0001] The invention relates to a composite material stratified for card-shaped data carriers, in particular cards with integrated circuit, cards with magnetic stripe, identification cards and the like, to a card-shaped data carrier produced with this material and procedures for its manufacture.

[0002] A stratified composite material for the manufacture of data carriers in the form of cards generally consists of plastic sheets laminated together. In the layers of the card, recesses can be made for the accommodation of electronic components, in particular a chip module, before or after the lamination process. It is also known the procedure consisting of inserting between individual card layers or groups of components integrated in card covers during the laminating process (if necessary also without such recesses). In addition, security elements can be integrated into the stratified composite material, or these can be applied from outside on the laminated composite material, for example holograms, magnetic strips, security prints and the like. Special importance is also given to a high quality printed image with an attractive appearance. In this context, for example, the process of providing the layers of the laminated composite material visible from outside a metal layer, printing the metal layer and then covering it with a transparent layer to protect it from scratches and abrasion is known. Printing on the metallic background has an especially attractive effect.

[0003] US 4,897,533 discloses a credit card with a PET sheet (polyester sheet) with metallic coating, which first is glued on a core of PVC card core by the hot rolling process, then the layer is printed metallic and finally protects against scratches by a transparent cover layer. To avoid deterioration of the printed metal layer when applying the cover layer, the printing image is first applied on the metal layer by screen printing with a printing ink capable of being cross-linked and then the cover plate is applied, as well as a varnish that can be hardened by UV, as well as a polyester sheet bonded with a thermally fusible adhesive. Previously, you can already print the back side of the card core layer and cover with a transparent PVC sheet, applied by lamination.

[0004] US 6,491,782 B1 describes a laminated composite material for cards with a similar structure, but in this case the card core is formed by two layers of PVC, namely a simple PVC sheet and a sheet of material Composed of PVC-metallic layer, which are printed respectively by the outer face of joining them simultaneously to form the core of the card.The core of the card is also covered with transparent cover layers to protect the printed images.

[0005] However, printing of metal sheets is problematic and generally requires the pretreatment of the metal surfaces to be printed with a primer. For example, in US 6,471,128 a prior treatment of this type is proposed, with which the metal layer is suitable for printing both by screen printing and offset printing. In the introduction of US 6,491,782 B1, it is also mentioned above that it is possible to avoid direct printing of the surface of the metallized sheet if the sheet is printed on the back side, but this implies that the sheet material has to be transparent.

[0006] Printing of the metallized sheet is problematic, since said metallized sheet is sensitive to scratches and can deteriorate during processing, especially if it is necessary to provide the metallic coating with a primer before printing. Waste can also be produced due to defective prints, but if possible, any waste should be avoided due to the high price of metalized sheets.

[0007] Another disadvantage of the current state of the art mentioned above consists in the asymmetric structure of the card layers with respect to the central plane of the laminated composite. Due to this, unwanted warping can occur during the cooling process after rolling or during the subsequent use of the card. On the other hand, a symmetrical structure of the stratified composite materials for cards described above would imply so many layers that the manufacturing costs would be uneconomic and the thickness of 0.76 ± 0.08 mm according to the ISO standard would hardly be realizable.

[0008] Accordingly, the objective of the present invention is to propose a laminated composite material for card-shaped data carriers and corresponding card-shaped data carriers, as well as procedures for their manufacture, that present a protected print against scratches on a metallic bottom, the share of waste during manufacturing should be as low as possible.

[0009] This objective is solved by means of a composite material laminated for cards and by means of a data carrier in the form of a card, as well as by methods for its manufacture, with the characteristics of the related claims. Advantageous configurations and improvements of the invention are indicated in subordinate claims.

[0010] Correspondingly, the composite laminated card material includes an inner layer that is provided with a metallic layer on its entire surface, at least one face, and a first plastic layer on each face of the inner layer. The first plastic layer disposed on the metallized face is transparent so that the metallic layer can be recognized from the outside as an optically bright background for a print image explained in greater detail below. The inner metallized layer and the two adjacent plastic layers provide a composite sheet that preferably can remain unprinted, but can also be printed. This has the advantage that the scratch-sensitive metal coating is mechanically protected against outside influences by the first two outer plastic layers. Thanks to this, the composite sheet can be manufactured, subjected to intermediate storage and subsequently processed without danger. The waste quota of the expensive metallic foil is correspondingly low.

[0011] In the subsequent processing to obtain the laminated composite material for cards according to the invention another layer is applied as a second plastic layer on each of the outer faces of the first two plastic layers. At least the second plastic layer disposed on the first transparent plastic layer is also transparent in turn and is also printed, at least, on one side, so that the printed image is visible on the metallic background.

[0012] This offers different advantages. On the one hand, in this way it is possible to produce the image printed on standard sheets, for example PVC, with any printing technique, in particular without the need to previously apply a primer. On the other hand, the central composite sheet and the sheet provided with the printed image can be produced in completely different manufacturing workshops and laminated in a much later process step in order to obtain the composite material laminated for cards according to the invention. As long as the central composite sheet is not printed, no waste can be produced due to defective prints. Waste is only produced in relation to PVC sheets, which are cheap.

[0013] Finally, thanks to the distance between the printed image and the metallic layer (due to the first plastic layer disposed between them), three-dimensional effects or shadow effects can be achieved on a background with metallic luster. Printed image is arranged on the outer face of the second plastic layer, the distance to the metal layer is especially large and the 3D effect obtained is maximum.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the transparent plastic sheet constituting the second plastic layer is printed on both sides, whereby two printed images are arranged in different planes at a distance from the metal layer. This allows to achieve a particularly good 3D effect. Alternatively, the second printed image may be printed on the outer face of the first transparent plastic layer of the central composite sheet, but this is less preferable due to the risk of manufacturing debris from defective prints on the expensive composite sheet. However, this waste manufacturing problem can be avoided if the plastic layer of the central composite sheet is printed before it is laminated with the metal sheet to form the composite sheet.

[0015] As long as the second plastic layer is printed on the outer face, it is advantageous to use a laminated composite card material of a transparent cover layer on the printed image to protect it. According to a variant embodiment, this transparent cover layer is supplied as a separate sheet and laminated together with the central composite sheet and the second plastic layers present in the form of a plastic sheet in order to obtain the laminated composite for cards according to the invention. According to an alternative embodiment, the transparent cover layer can be applied previously on the second plastic layer, for example as a transparent lacquer or as a sheet applied by lamination. Accordingly, in this case the second plastic layer is supplied together with the cover layer as a laminated composite material and laminated with the central composite sheet in order to obtain the final laminated composite material for cards.

[0016] The lamination process normally takes place by applying pressure and in case of heat, adhesive systems can be used between the layers to be laminated together. However, a lamination process without additional adhesive layers is preferable, in which the layers to be laminated together merge with each other for their material properties simply by applying pressure and heat. In this context it is advantageous that the first plastic layers of the central composite sheet and the second printed plastic layers, adjacent to the first ones, have approximately the same softening temperature. For example, PVC is especially suitable, since PVC prints without problems. Instead of PVC, PETG (glycolized polyethylene terephthalate) is also suitable, which can be a layer of PETG and the other layer of PVC. PETG processing is very similar to PVC, with a Vicat softening temperature of approximately 70º C in the case of PETG and 65 to 80º C depending on the type of PVC.

[0017] The base material of the inner metallized layer preferably consists of a metallized PET sheet ("polyester sheet"; PET = polyethylene terephthalate), which can usually be obtained commercially. Normally, these sheets are vacuum metallized. However, the metallized sheet can also consist of a sheet composed of a polymeric support layer and a thin metallic sheet. The metallic layer of the inner metallized layer can be provided on one side or on both sides, so that the effects described above are correspondingly visible only on one or both sides of the card to be manufactured with the laminated composite.

[0018] The cover layer, if necessary, is chosen in turn with a corresponding softening temperature, for example of PVC, especially if the material composed with the rest of the layers is not to be manufactured by means of an adhesive glue , but simply by applying pressure and heat.

[0019] According to an improvement of the invention, at least one metallized area of the inner layer has an embossed structure with an optical diffraction effect, which can be produced, for example, in a stamping process preferably before or if necessary after of metallization. The relief structure can also be extended over the entire surface over the inner layer. In this way, holographic effects and other optical diffraction effects (for example a rainbow effect) can be performed in the background of the printed image. As relief structures with optical diffraction effect, refraction patterns, holograms and also reticular structures (for example Kinegramm®, pixelgram) or the like are considered. The inner plastic layer may in turn be provided with one or both sides of the metallic embossed structure.

[0020] Apart from the aforementioned advantages, the laminated composite material for cards according to the invention can be designed with dimensional stability, that is, to a large extent resistant to warping. This is essentially achieved by arranging the composite sheet in the center of the laminated composite material for cards. If the thicknesses and materials of the layers described above of the composite laminated card material are distributed symmetrically with respect to the inner metallized layer, an ideal structure is achieved.

[0021] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

- Figure 1 schematically shows the layer structure of a laminated composite material for cards according to a first embodiment variant of the invention; Y

- Figure 2 schematically shows the layer structure of a laminated composite material for cards according to a second variant of the invention.

[0022] Figure 1 schematically shows the arrangement of layers of a laminated composite material for cards before lamination of the layers with each other. The layers are subsequently laminated by the application of pressure and heat (in this case without the interposition of additional adhesive layers) in order to obtain a laminated composite material for uniform cards 10.

[0023] The layer structure includes a central composite sheet 1 consisting of an inner plastic layer 2 of polyester (PET) with a metal layer 3 and two transparent plastic layers 4a, 4b of PVC or PETG. On each side of the two transparent plastic layers 4a, 4b, a plastic sheet 5a and 5b are laminated, respectively, being at least the transparent plastic sheet 5a so that the metallic layer 3 is visible from outside through said plastic sheet 5a. A design print 6a and 6b is applied respectively on the outer surface of the sheets 5a and 5b. Accordingly, the design print 6th is located at a distance from the metal layer 3. Alternatively, the design print 6a can also be located on the face of the plastic sheet 5a oriented towards the composite sheet 1, whereby the distance to metal layer 3 is smaller. The greater the distance between the design print 6a and the metallic layer 3, the more striking is a 3D effect or shadow effect of the design print 6th, thus achieved on the metallic background. The metallic layer 3 can shine in any color, in particular in silver or gold. To achieve an intimate union of the plastic layers 4a, 4b with the plastic sheets 5a, 5b without using adhesives, the plastic sheets 5a, 5b consist of PVC with a softening point approximately corresponding to that of the plastic layers 4a, 4b

[0024] A transparent plastic layer 7a and 7b are provided on each of the outer faces of the laminated card composite 10. Again, the plastic layers 7a, 7b preferably consist of PVC or other plastic that can be intimately bonded with the other layers in the lamination process by applying exclusively pressure and heat.The transparent plastic layers7a, 7b are capable of protecting the design print 6a, 6b, front to outside influences. Therefore, they can be thin, with a thickness of for example 50 µm. They can also be dispensed with if the design print 6a, 6b is located on the face of the plastic sheet 5a or 5 facing the composite sheet 1. Symmetry primitives, the plastic layers 7a and 7b should be suppressed on both sides or should be provided on both sides with the in order to reduce the risk of warping of the laminated composite material for cards.

[0025] Depending on the intended use, a magnetic strip can be applied on the outer face of one or both layers of transparent plastic 7a and 7b. A signature field can also be created, for example by applying a signature band in a suitable place on the transparent plastic layers 7a or 7b.

[0026] Figure 2 shows another embodiment that differs from the embodiment according to Figure 1 in various aspects. On the one hand, the transparent plastic sheets 5a and 5b constitute in each case a composite material 9 with the transparent plastic layers 7a and 7b, respectively. In this case, the transparent plastic layer 7a or 7b is applied in the form of a transparent lacquer on the design print 6a or 6b, respectively. However, it can also consist of a sheet, for example glued.

[0027] In addition, the transparent plastic layer 5a in accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 2 is provided with an impression of design6 and 6b by expensive faces.This modem, by means of the two design prints 6a, 6b, a special 3D effect is obtained on a background with metallic reflection .

[0028] Finally, in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the inner plastic layer 2 is provided

5 of a metal layer 3a and 3b on both sides, the metal layer 3b presenting in a defined area a relief structure 8, stamped with an optical diffraction effect. In this way, holographic effects can be performed, in particular, for example, a rainbow effect, which here constitute the background for design printing 6b.

[0029] The two embodiments according to Figures 1 and 2 can be combined in any desired way, for example, by embossing structures 8 with optical diffraction effect on both sides of the

10 inner plastic layer 2 and / or using the relief structure 8 with optical diffraction effect as a background for the plastic sheet 5a printed on both sides. In addition, it is not necessary for the metal layer 3 to occupy the entire surface. For example, the metal layer 3b can be provided only in the area of the relief structure 8 with optical effect.

[0030] The laminated composite material for cards can be subsequently processed in any way

15 desired to obtain a data carrier in the form of a card. Normally, the laminated composite material for cards is first produced as a roll or sheet material. The individual cards of the rolls or sheets are then cut out. Before and / or after the trimming process, other processing steps may be provided to manufacture the finished card. The stages for the processing of the laminated composite material for cards are known to all specialists.

[0031] The embodiments have been described with reference to plastic layers. However, the idea of the invention can also be applied using polymeric layers instead of plastic layers.

Claims (29)

1. Stratified composite material for cards (10), in particular cards with integrated circuit, cards with magnetic stripe, identification cards and the like, which includes: -a inner layer (2) which is provided with a metallic layer (3) in its entire surface, at least on one side, -a first plastic layer (4a, 4b) on each face of the inner layer (2), at least the first plastic layer (4a) disposed on the metal layer (3) of the inner layer (2) being transparent ), Y -a second plastic layer (5a, 5b) on each of the outer faces of the first plastic layers (4a, 4b), at least the second plastic layer (5a) disposed on the first layer of transparent transparent plastic (4a) and presenting a printed image (6a), at least on one side.

2.

Composite laminated card material according to claim 1, characterized in that on the second layer of transparent plastic (5a), a transparent cover layer (7a) is arranged, spatially when the printed image (6a) is located externally on the second layer of transparent plastic (5a).

3.

Composite laminated card material according to claim 2, characterized in that said layers, including the cover layer (7a), are laminated together.

Four.

Composite laminated card material according to claim 3, characterized in that the cover layer (7a) has a magnetic strip.

5.

Composite laminated card material according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the cover layer (7a) has a signature band.

6.

Composite laminated card material according to claim 2, characterized in that the cover layer (7a) consists of a transparent lacquer layer.

7.

Composite laminated card material according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the thicknesses and materials of said layers are distributed symmetrically with respect to the inner metallized layer (2, 3)

8.

Composite laminated card material according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inner layer (2) consists of a thermoplastic material, in particular PET.

9.

Composite laminated card material according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first transparent plastic layer (4a) consists of a thermoplastic material, in particular PVC or PETG.

10.

Composite laminated card material according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the second layer of transparent plastic (5a) provided with the printed image (6a) consists of a thermoplastic material, in particular PVC.

eleven.

Composite laminated card material according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the second layer of transparent plastic (5a) has printed images (6a, 6b) on both sides.

12.

Composite laminated card material according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the first transparent plastic layer (4a) has a printed image.

13.

Composite laminated card material according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least one area of the inner layer (2) has an embossed structure with an optical diffraction effect (8).

14.

Data carrier in the form of a card, in particular card with integrated circuit, card with magnetic stripe, identification card or the like, with a card body formed of a composite material stratified for cards (10) according to one of claims 1 to 13 .

fifteen.

Procedure for the manufacture of a stratified composite material (10) for card-shaped data carriers, in particular cards with integrated circuit, cards with magnetic stripe, identification cards and the like, which includes the steps consisting of:

-prepare a composite sheet (1) with an inner layer (2), which is provided with a metal layer (3) on its entire surface, at least on one side, and with a plastic layer (4a, 4b) in each face of the inner layer (2), at least the first plastic layer (4a) disposed on the metal layer (3) of the inner layer (2) being transparent, - lay a plastic layer (5a, 5b) on each of the outer faces of the plastic layers (4a, 4b), at least the plastic layer (5a) disposed on the transparent plastic layer being transparent ( 4a) and presenting a printed image (6a), at least on one side, and -laminate the composite sheet (1) with the plastic layers (5a, 5b). 6

16.

Method according to claim 15, characterized by the additional step consisting of providing a transparent cover layer (7a) on the transparent plastic sheet (5a), especially when the printed image (6a) is located externally on the transparent plastic layer (5th).

17.

Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the transparent coated layer (7a) is provided with a magnetic strip.

18.

Method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the transparent covered layer (7a) is provided with a signature band.

19.

Method according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the transparent plastic sheet (5a) is made available at the stage of the arrangement as a composite material with the cover layer (7a).

twenty.

Method according to claim 18, characterized in that the cover layer (7a) is made available as a separate sheet, the cover layer (7a) being joined with the transparent plastic layer (5a) by the lamination step.

twenty-one.

Method according to one of claims 15 to 20, characterized by the additional step consisting in choosing the thicknesses and materials of said layers and sheets such that they are distributed symmetrically with respect to the inner metallized layer (2, 3).

22

Method according to one of claims 15 to 21, characterized in that the inner layer (2) consists of a thermoplastic material, in particular PET.

2. 3.

Method according to one of claims 15 to 22, characterized in that the transparent plastic layer (4a) of the composite sheet (1) consists of a thermoplastic material, in particular PVC or PETG.

24.

Method according to one of claims 15 to 23, characterized in that the transparent plastic layer (5a) provided with the printed image (6a) consists of a thermoplastic material, in particular PVC.

25.

Method according to one of claims 15 to 24, characterized in that the transparent plastic layer (5a) is provided with printed images (6a, 6b) on both sides before the lamination step.

26.

Method according to one of claims 15 to 24, characterized in that the transparent plastic layer (4a) is provided with a printed image.

27.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 26, characterized in that at least one area of the inner layer (2) has a relief structure with an optical diffraction effect (8).

28.

Method for producing a data carrier in the form of a card, in particular a card with integrated circuit, a card with magnetic stripe, an identification card or the like, which includes the process steps according to one of claims 15 to 27 and the step additional consisting of cutting a card body for data support in the form of a card from the stratified composite material for cards.

29.

Method according to claim 28, characterized by other additional procedural steps before and / or after the trimming stage for the integration and / or application of electronic components, magnetic strips and / or other elements within the card body or on the same.

7