COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
GROUND COVER MATERIAL
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to woven materials and particularly but not exclusively to woven
materials for use as ground covers or other agricultural applications.
BACKGROUND
Ground cover materials are used in agriculture for purposes including moisture retention,
water conservation, weed or sward suppression, soil warmth retention, and for light
reflecting.
Typically where the material is used primarily as a reflective ground cover for light
enhancement, the material is rolled out in lengths onto the ground between rows of trees
in an orchard, rows of vines in a vineyard, or rows of berry fruit plants for example, to
increase the amount of light to which the plants and in particular fruit are exposed, by
reflection of light from the material towards the fruit above. Each length of the material
needs to be suitably secured in place such that it will not be dislodged during wind or
movement of traffic over the materials. A fastening system including a multiple number
of prong fastening components or “claws” may be fixed to thicker edges or side margins
of the sheet material by pushing the prongs of the fastening components into the
material so that prongs pierce and pass through the material. In turn the prongs are
fixed to adjacent trees, or alternatively stakes or pegs inserted for that purpose, typically
but not necessarily by a length of elastic cord. The sheet material will typically remain in
place for some months, before being removed and reused in a subsequent growing
season or on another crop in the same growing season.
Referring to Figure 3a a roll of woven fabric material wound around a core/spool/cylinder
4 and ready for dispatch is shown. The fabric is made woven on a loom from warp and
weft tapes. If a circular loom is used, the fabric is first made into a tube, then slit at one
side along the length of the tube to form a sheet, which is subsequently folded
longitudinally in half and wound into a roll about the core 4. If a flat loom is used, the
fabric is woven directly into a sheet, and subsequently folded longitudinally in half and
wound into a roll on the core 4. The sheet is lengthwise folded before rolling onto the
core 4 to reduce the size of the roll for shipping and dispatch.
The warp tapes are the same thickness across the entire material, but are narrower at
the side margins (which are both at region 3.1 after folding the material) than the
remaining tapes in the warp direction. The roll thickness is hence even as there is no
variation in the tape thickness across the warp tapes. The evenness of the warp tapes
allows the warp tension to be controlled across the width of the fabric to assist in
creating an even fabric.
Referring now to Figure 3b, a roll of improved material is shown having side margins 3.2
of increased thickness. In particular the warp tapes are thicker in the side margins, which
allows the point of fastening to have greater strength than the other portions of the
fabric. The manufacturing process for this material is similar to that described above.
However thicker warp tapes at the side margins (which lay adjacent one another once
the material is folded) creates a roll as in Figure 3b that is difficult to stack. Also the use
of thicker warp tapes for the side margins during weaving creates uneven tension on the
warp tapes in the weaving machine which in turn generates difficulty in maintaining the
overall evenness of the weaving process. Finally, the thicker edges/side margins 3.2,
when folded onto each other make it difficult to roll up the length of material evenly (with
a constant axis of rotation) which places undesirable stress on the material at the fold
line after it has been rolled up.
In Figure 3b the tapes at the opposite end to the open end 3.2 are exposed to additional
winding pressure as this is where the fold is. This pressure is experienced especially by
the weft tapes which are exposed to added winding tension as they are folded over
themselves to change direction 180 degrees.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet material that at least partially
alleviates the abovementioned difficulty, or to at least provide the public with a useful
choice.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In a first aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist of a ground cover sheet
material woven from warp and weft tapes, wherein the material comprises regions of
relatively thicker (hereinafter: thicker regions) warp tapes and regions of relatively
thinner (hereinafter: thinner regions) warp tapes, the thicker regions being at or
adjacent one or both longitudinally extending opposite side margins of the material, and
at two or more longitudinally extending centre regions spaced apart on either side of a
notional cenre or fold line of the material and nearer to the notional centre or fold line of
the material than to the longitudinally extending opposite side margins of the material,
and the thinner regions making up the balance of the sheet material.
Preferably the two or more longitudinally extending centre regions spaced apart on either
side of a notional centre or fold line of the material are between 20 to 100 mm away
from the notional centre or fold line.
Preferably the sheet material comprises two side margins on either side of the material of
thicker warp tapes and two centre regions of thicker warp tapes spaced apart on either
side of the notional centre or fold line of the material. Alternatively the sheet material
comprises a single centre region of thicker warp tapes adjacent the notional centre or
fold line.
Preferably the warp tapes have a uniform thickness in the thicker regions and a uniform
thickness in the thinner regions.
Preferably the warp tapes in the thicker regions are between 5-300% thicker or more
preferably between 10 and 200% thicker than the warp tapes in the thinner regions, and
even more preferably between 200 and 100% thicker.
Preferably the width of each of the thicker regions is up to about 500mm or more
preferably up to about 300mm. Even more preferably each of the thicker regions is
between 20 and 300mm wide and most preferably between 40 and 200mm wide. The
width of the side margin may be different from the width of the centre regions on each
side of the centre fold line. The centre regions may be between 20 and 200mm, or more
preferably between 30 and 100mm, and most preferably between 40 and 80mm in
width. While the side margins may be between 20 and 300mm, more preferably
between 40 and 200mm, and most preferable between 60 and 180mm in width.
Preferably the width of warp tapes is also decreased in the thicker regions relative to the
width of warp tapes in the thinner regions.
In some embodiments the warp tapes in the thicker regions have a width between 1 and
4 mm, more preferably between 2 and 3mm and the warp tapes in the thinner regions
have a width between 2 and 6mm, more preferably between 3 and 5mm.
In some embodiments the thicker regions have a lower porosity than the thinner regions.
In some embodiments the transition between an inner edge or the inner portion of each
side margin and a thinner region of the material is marked by a line or other marking of
contrasting colour.
In some embodiments the colour of at least some of the warp tapes in the thicker regions
contrasts to that of the balance of the sheet material.
Preferably the warp and weft tapes are of a plastics material.
Preferably the ground cover material is woven from warp tapes and weft tapes which are
substantially flat.
Preferably the tapes that the material is woven from are not folded on themselves, so
they are placed or inserted into the fabric so there is no placement density to cause
folding of the tapes.
In some embodiments the material is made of coloured materials to give a coloured
fabric including white, green, black and other colours and even clear with no apparent
colour.
In some embodiments the material is reflective of at least about 50% of visible light on
at least one side of the material.
In some embodiments some or all tapes of a reflective material are formed from a resin
comprising a white pigment, which resin has been formed by mixing a masterbatch
consisting essentially of between 5 and 90% by weight of a white pigment or
combination of pigments, and a first polymer, with a second polymer such that the resin
(masterbatch) comprising the white pigment comprises between 0.5 and 50% by weight
of the total mixture.
Preferably the white pigment is selected from zirconium, dioxide, magnesium, zirconate,
calcium zirconate, strontium zirconate, barium zirconate, zirconium silicate, zinc oxide,
zinc sulphide, calcium carbonate, barium sulphate, magnesium oxide, titanium dioxide,
strontium carbonate, barium carbonate, and potassium titantae.
In some embodiments the material incorporates a compound or compounds added to
cause or increase the extent to which the material reflects and/or absorption of radiation
from the earth (terrestrial (long wave or infrared) radiation).
In some embodiments the material incorporates a compound or compounds added to
cause or increase the extent to which the material allows transmission and/or absorption
of radiation from the earth (terrestrial (long wave or infrared) radiation).
In some embodiments the material incorporates a compound or compounds added to
cause or increase the extent to which the material reflects and/or absorbs solar radiation.
In some embodiments the material incorporates a compound or compounds added to
cause or increase the extent to which the material allows transmission and/or absorption
of solar radiation.
Preferably the warp and weft tapes are formed from polyolefin, or an ethylene alpha-
olefin, or a polyester, or a biopolymer, or a blend of any of the foregoing.
Typically sheet materials of the invention will be laid out in lengths on the ground
between rows of the crop being grown, which may be trees, vines, bushes etc, to
increase the amount of light to which the plants and in particular the fruit are exposed,
by reflection of the light from the material back up towards the crop above. At the end of
a growing season, each length of material is rolled up for storage. The thicker warp tape
regions as defined above enable the length of material to roll evenly after use. The
particular weight distribution achieved by employing the thicker regions allows the
material to maintain alignment as it is rolled-up for storage.
At the time of manufacturing the combination of thicker side margin warp tapes and the
thicker warp tapes at the centre region(s) in the even winding up of the roll by ensuring
(or supporting) the wind up tension to be more even across all warp tapes. In addition
the thicker warp tapes at the centre region(s) reduce(s) the roll up tension on the tapes
around the fold line. The latter being especially the case for the weft tapes that are
folded at the centre line during manufacture.
The terms “thicker” and “thinner” as used in this specification and claims are relative
terms and not intended to be limited to an absolute value or range of thicknesses unless
otherwise specified.
The term “comprising” as used in this specification and claims means “consisting at least
in part of”. When interpreting each statement in this specification and claims that
includes the term “comprising”, features other than that or those prefaced by the term
may also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprises” are to be
interpreted in the same manner.
It is intended that reference to a range of numbers disclosed herein (for example, 1 to
) also incorporates reference to all rational numbers within that range (for example, 1,
1.1, 2, 3, 3.9, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9 and 10) and also any range of rational numbers within
that range (for example, 2 to 8, 1.5 to 5.5 and 3.1 to 4.7) and, therefore, all sub-ranges
of all ranges expressly disclosed herein are hereby expressly disclosed. These are only
examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical
values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered
to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner.
The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the
following gives examples only.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows use of a ground cover material of the invention between two rows
of orchard trees;
Figure 2 shows use of a ground cover material and fixing of the ground cover
material in place by the use of a claw and cord system, including a fastening component
that penetrates the side margins of the material;
Figure 3a shows a possible completed roll of fabric after being rolled but with no
thicker side margin or warp tapes on either side of the fold or centre line.
Figure 3b shows a possible completed roll of another version of a woven ground
cover material with thicker side margin tapes during manufacture;
Figure 3c shows a possible complete roll of a woven ground cover material during
manufacture in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention with thicker
side margin and centre region warp tapes;
Figure 4a is an enlarged view of a warp tape at the thinner regions of the
preferred form ground cover material;
Figure 4b is an enlarged view of a warp tape at the thicker regions of the
preferred form ground cover material;
Figure 5 shows a close up view of a section of the woven material of Figure 1 at a
centre region;
Figure 6 shows a close up view of two centre regions of the woven material of
Figure 1; and
Figure 7 shows a close up view at a side margin of the woven material of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figure 1, agricultural sheeting 1 is shown in use anchored underneath
agricultural crops such as rows of orchard trees 12 as a ground cover, which typically has
reflective properties to reflect solar radiation onto the fruit trees and fruit from below.
Typically long sections of the sheet material are anchored along both edges between
rows of orchard trees or vines. The material is woven from flat warp and weft tapes of a
plastics material. Referring also to Figure 2, in use fastening claws 13 connect to the
sheeting along its edges, and in turn may connect to clips usually by loops or lengths of
extensible or optionally inextensible material. The clips may in turn attach to staples
hammered into the spaced trees 12 as shown, or alternatively to stakes or pegs
hammered into the ground, or to a wire extending along the row of the trees or vines, or
to twine tied around the tree trunk or vine, for example.
The sheet material comprises regions of relatively thicker warp tapes 11 and regions of
relatively thinner warp tapes (balance of material). The regions of thicker warp tapes 11
(thicker regions) are at one or both side margins and at least one centre region adjacent
to a notional centre or fold line 30 of the material. The regions of thinner warp tapes
(thinner regions) make up the balance of the sheet material. In the preferred
embodiment, there are thicker warp tapes at both side margins and there are two spaced
centre regions of thicker warp tapes as shown in Figure 1, however, the invention is not
intended to be limited to this embodiment. In alternative embodiments there may be
more than two or only one centre region of thicker warp tapes and/or only one or two
side margin(s) with thicker tapes. The line 30 is preferably along the centre of the
material but it will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, the fold line 30 may
not necessarily be exactly at the centre of the material.
Referring to Figure 3c, during manufacture, a length of material 3 is woven, then folded
and rolled about a spool 4 to form a sheet of material 1 ready for dispatch. As discussed,
a flat sheet of material may be first formed directly from a flat loom, or from a circular
loom then slit on one side, before being flattened/folded and rolled about the spool 4.
The material 3 is woven with thicker warp regions at at least one side margin 28 and at
least one centre region 29. The fabric or material in Figure 3c is folded (or
flattened/closed in the case of a slit tube made from a circular loom) in half prior to being
rolled so that the two side margins are on one end of the roll 28 and the other end 29
has the folded section with the one or more centre regions of thicker warp tapes. Only
half of the width of the material 3 is visible in Figure 3c as the other is folded underneath
the first layer, so region 29 is near or adjacent the centre of the material 3. In the
preferred embodiment, the other half of the material 3 (not visible as it is folded
underneath) is a mirror image of the half shown in Figure 3c. Once woven (and cut on
one side of the tube into a folded sheet in the case of a circular loom), the sheet can be
folded longitudinally at its centre and then rolled up about a spool 4 for efficient dispatch
of the material to an end user. By employing one or more thicker warp tape regions 29 at
the centre of the sheet 1, the material can be rolled up more evenly to maintain a more
even tension across the entire warp during the manufacturing process than if the thicker
warp tapes were only on the side margin(s). It will be appreciated, that during
manufacture, the material 3 may be rolled about the core or spool 4 any number of times
depending on the desired length of the material, but in the preferred embodiment the
material is woven around the spool 4 to form a cylinder or roll and then when unwound it
can be cut along the length of the roll or cylinder to then form one or more sheets 1 (one
of which is shown in Figure 1) as desired by the end user.
Referring to Figure 7, a side portion of a sheet of material 1 woven from warp (25a-c)
and weft (25d) tapes is shown. The warp tapes 25a towards the side edge 27a (the cut
and seal edge on one side of the fabric) of the sheet material have an increased
thickness compared to the warp tapes 25b at the thinner regions. Figure 7 shows one
side margin 28a of thicker warp tapes 25a. The thickness of the warp tapes is mirrored in
the opposite side margin (not shown) of the sheet material. The two opposing side
margins make up two of the thicker regions of the sheet material that when folded and
rolled are on the same side of the fabric in the roll.
Referring now also to Figures 5 and 6, the warp tapes 25a in two centre regions 29a/b
are also thicker than warp tapes 25b at the thinner regions making up the balance of the
sheet material. The two longitudinally extending opposed centre regions 29a/b are
spaced apart and located on either side of a notional longitudinal centre or fold line 30 of
the sheet material. The regions 29a and 29b are preferably equally separated from either
side of the centre line 30. They are placed between 20 to 100 mm away from the centre
or fold line. Weft tapes 25d are common/similar for the entire material or fabric.
Referring now also to Figures 4a and 4b, typically the warp tapes 25a in the thicker
regions 28/29 of the material have a thickness, T2, that is 5 to 300% or more preferably
to 200% or most preferably 20 to 100% more than the thickness, T1, of the warp
tapes 25b at the thinner regions. Most preferably the thicker regions 28a, 28b and 29a,
29b comprise warp tapes 25a that are 30 to 50% thicker than the warp tapes 25b of the
thinner regions. Preferably the warp tapes have a uniform thickness, T2, in the thicker
regions and a uniform thickness, T1, in the thinner regions.
In one embodiment, the width ‘w’ as in Figure 7 of each of the thicker regions across the
longitudinal axis of the region may be anywhere up to 500mm wide or more preferably
300mm.The width ‘w’ may be anywhere between 20 to 300mm wide or more preferably
between 40 to 200mm wide. The width of the side margin may be different from the
width of the centre regions on each side of the centre fold line. The centre regions may
be 20 to 200mm, or more preferably 30 to 100mm, and most preferably 40 to 80mm in
width. While the side margins may be 20 to 300mm, more preferably 40 to 200mm, and
most preferable 60 to 180mm in width. In the most preferred embodiment, each of the
thicker regions is 160 mm wide for the side margins 28a/b and 50 mm wide for the
centre regions 29a/b. The width ‘w’, in the preferred embodiment is larger at the side
margins 28a/b than at the centre regions 29a/b, however in alternative embodiments,
the width ‘w’ may be uniform across all thicker regions 28/29 or different for each region
or even wider at the centre region than the side margins.
The thickness, T2, of the side margins 28a/b (28b is not shown but is the other side
margin of the fabric of Figure 7) strengthen the side margins of the material, due to the
thicker side warp tapes, so that when the sheet is fixed in place using a fixing system 13
(including fastening components in which prongs or similar pierce through the side
margins of the material), the increased strength of the material provides more a secure
coupling, with reduced risk of tearing or enlargement of the holes formed from prongs
piercing through the material. In the preferred embodiment, an indication means is
provided to enable a user to easily identify the stronger region 28a/b of the material. In
the preferred embodiment shown, each side margin 28a/b may be marked with a pair of
contrasting coloured warp tapes 25c that identify a region for inserting a fixing
component. In this case 25c is away from the very edge 27a of the material or fabric as
placement of the fastening device so close to the edge is not recommended. In another
embodiment, a single contrasting coloured warp tape is used at the junction between a
side margin 28a/b and an adjacent thinner warp tape region to identify the strengthened
area. In yet another alternative, the colour of all thicker warp tapes in the side margins
28a/b may contrast to those in the adjacent thinner regions. This marker or coloured
lines guide the user the best place to attach the fastening device.
Thicker regions 29a/b along the centre of the sheet are provided to allow the material to
roll up evenly after it has been sealed and cut on the edge, 27a, then flattened or folded
during the manufacturing process. This adds convenience and also helps alleviate the
stresses on the material at the fold line 30 by allowing the thicker raised tapes to
alleviate the winding pressure on the folded centre line of the material or fabric. When
the material is folded along its longitudinal centre line 30, the centre region(s) 29a/b
become opposed sides/edges to the thicker side margins 28a/b. By creating a balance
between the thickness of the side margins and the thickness of the material at the fold
(i.e. at the centre region(s)), the material is caused to maintain a more constant axis of
rotation as it is rolled up to form the balanced roll, ready for efficient stacking and
dispatch. The thicker warp tapes at the centre region(s) give a raised area 29 as shown
in Figure 3c which helps balance the tension created by raised area 28. The thicker warp
tapes at the centre therefore assist in roll evenness for stacking and transportation and
also evens the tension across the warp tapes during the weaving process.
It will be appreciated that the invention not intended to be limited to the number of
centre regions described for the preferred embodiment, but rather is more concerned
with providing a balanced thickness/density between the edges of a folded material. In
other words, any number of centre regions of thicker warp tapes can be employed
adjacent or proximate to (but preferably not at) the centre/fold lines to substantially
balance out the thickness of the side margins and allow the material to roll up
substantially evenly after it has been folded at the centre/fold line during manufacture.
In the preferred embodiment, the thickness of the warp tapes at the centre region(s) and
side margins are substantially similar or equal to create this balance. It will be
appreciated, that the width of the thicker regions, the relative thicknesses of the warp
tapes at the thicker regions, as well as the spacing/distribution of the centre regions are
dependent on particular desired properties of the material and can be altered accordingly
to provide the above described benefits without departing from the scope of the
invention. Preferably the centre regions are closer to the centre or fold line than the side
margins of the material.
In the preferred embodiment shown, the warp tapes 25a in the thicker regions 28/29 of
the sheet material respectively have a reduced width, w2, and a higher number of warp
tapes per unit area than the thinner regions making up the balance of the sheet material.
This allows the advantage of the narrower tapes 25a to be in the side margins 28a and
28b and centre regions 29a/b and the advantages of wider tapes 25b to be captured in
the remaining parts of the material. The side margins and centre region warp tapes do
not have to be narrower than the tapes in 25b but would be thicker to capture the
benefits as already discussed. Typically the width of the warp tapes 25a in the thicker
regions, w2, will be 20-80% of the width, w1, of the warp tapes 25b of the thinner
regions in the balance of the material.
In a particularly preferred form the warp tapes 25a in thicker regions of the material will
be between 1mm and 4mm or more preferably between 2mm and 3mm in width, while
the other warp tapes 25b will be between 2mm and 6mm or more preferably between
3mm to 5mm in width. The weft tapes 25d which extend transversely across the woven
material are woven through both the wider warp tapes 25b and the reduced width warp
tapes 25a at either side margin and at the centre regions of the material. In an
alternative embodiment, only the warp tapes 25a at the side margins 28a/b may have
the reduced width and higher number of warp tapes per unit area but are thicker.
Alternatively the centre region 29a/b warp tapes 25a are narrower and the side margin
28a/b warp tapes 25a are of the same width as the warp tapes 25b making up the
balance of the material. In another embodiment the tapes are all the same width and
difference is only in the tape thickness.
Preferably the ground cover material is woven from warp tapes and weft tapes and
wherein the warp and weft tapes are substantially flat. If the tapes are folded then this
would generate thicker tapes where they occur but also areas of extra pressure and
possible weaknesses of the tapes at the folded areas.
In an alternative embodiment, the thicker warp tape regions are only at the one or more
centre regions, and preferably at two centre regions on either side of the fold line 30. In
this embodiment, the resulting roll would not be balanced from a winding perspective but
the fold line 30 would be protected from high levels of winding pressure or tension.
Preferably the material is reflective of at least 50% or alternatively at least 55% or
alternatively at least 60% of visible light on at least one side of the material. In one
embodiment of a reflective material the material may reflect at least 40% solar radiation
on average across the UV (wavelength about 280-400 nm), visible (wavelength about
400-700 nm) and very near infrared (wavelength about 700-800 nm) ranges, and which
transmits at least 10% or 5% on average of solar radiation across the wavelength range
about 800-2500nm. The material may reflect more solar radiation than it transmits and
absorbs in the UV, visible, and very near infrared ranges. The material may transmit at
least 15% or at least 20% of solar radiation on average in the wavelength range about
800-2500nm. In another embodiment the material may reflect no UV in the 280 to 300
nm or less than 40% or only 5% of the UV. Some or all tapes of a reflective material may
be formed from a resin comprising a white pigment, which resin has been formed by
mixing a masterbatch consisting essentially of 5 to 90% by weight of a white pigment or
combination of pigments chosen from zirconium, strontium, barium, magnesium, zinc,
calcium and titanium pigments, and a first polymer, with a second polymer such that the
resin (masterbatch) comprising the white pigment comprises between about 0.5 to 50%
by weight of the total mixture. The material could also be made from a premixed formula
or compound so there is no polymer to be added and the mixture is then extruded as a
compound without a masterbatch. In certain embodiments the white pigment may be
selected from zirconium, dioxide, magnesium, zirconate, calcium zirconate, strontium
zirconate, barium zirconate, zirconium silicate, zinc sulphide, zinc oxide, calcium
carbonate, barium sulphate, magnesium oxide, strontium carbonate, barium carbonate,
titanium dioxide and potassium titantae.
In some embodiments the material may incorporate a compound or compounds added to
cause or increase the extent to which the material reflects and/or absorption of radiation
from the earth (terrestrial (long wave or infrared) radiation). Thus when the material is
placed over or adjunct to plants it will assist in retaining heat beneath the material,
which may be desirable for some plants or applications.
In some embodiments the material may incorporate a compound or compounds added to
cause or increase the extent to which the material allows transmission and/or absorption
of radiation from the earth (terrestrial (long wave or infrared) radiation). Thus when the
material is placed over or adjacent to plants it will assist in releasing the heat beneath
the material, which may be desirable for some plants or applications.
In other embodiments the material may incorporate a compound or compounds added to
cause or increase the extent to which the material reflects and/or absorbs solar radiation.
Thus when the material is placed over or adjunct to plants it will assist in cooling beneath
the material, which may be desirable for some plants or applications.
In other embodiments the material may incorporate a compound or compounds added to
cause or increase the extent to which the material allows transmission and/or absorption
of solar radiation. Thus when the material is placed over or adjunct to plants it will assist
in increasing the heat beneath the material, which may be desirable for some plants or
applications.
The tapes may be formed from any suitable polyolefin such as polyethylene or
polypropylene, for example, or a mixture thereof, or an ethylene alpha-olefin, or a
polyester, or a biopolymer, or a blend of any of the foregoing. Certain plastics are
particularly useful when present as minor or major components. Ethylene vinyl acetate
(EVA), ethylene butyl acrylate (EBA) and ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA) are useful for
imparting elasticity and other properties. Polyesters and polystyrene, styrene-butdienie
(SB), acrylonitrile-butadienie-styrene (ABS), styrene-aciylonitrile (SAN), polyethylenie
terephithialate (PET), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate are useful as
dye carriers and also for influencing radiation (reflecting, absorbing and transmission)
properties and also other properties on the materials. Starch and other plant polymers
are useful to increase biodegradability. Alternatively the tapes may comprise in part or
whole of paper, wood or cellulose fibre, starch based polymers, casein, latex or in any
combination of the above and/or with petroleum derived plastic polymers. The polymer
or polymer blend may incorporate agents such as one or more pigments, UV stabilisers,
or processing aids.
The foregoing describes the invention including a preferred form thereof, alterations and
modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated
in the scope hereof as defined in the accompanying claims.