US4758462A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Opaque film composites and method of preparing same
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1986-08-29
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Granted: 1988-07-19
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Expires: 2006-08-29
Abstract
Abstract An opaque, biaxially oriented film structure is described which comprises: an expanded thermoplastic polymer matrix core layer within which is located a minor amount of a light-absorbing pigment and a strata of voids; positioned at least substantially within at least a substantial number of said voids is at least one void-initiating particle which is phase distinct and incompatible with the matrix material, the void space occupied by said particle being substantially less than the volume of said void, with one generally cross-sectional dimension of said particle, at least approximating a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of said void; the population of voids in said core and the thickness of said core being such as to cause a degree of opacity of less than 15% light transmission; and at least one void-free thermoplastic skin layer affixed to a surface of the core layer, said skin layer(s) being of a thickness such that the outer surfaces thereof do not, at least substantially, manifest the surface irregularities of said core layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Hee C. Park
- 👤 Joseph J. Spitz
- 👤 Charles R. Ashcraft
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:07
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/18; B32B27/20; B32B27/205; B32B27/06; B32B27/08; B32B27/32; B32B2264/00; B32B2264/02; B32B2264/0214; B32B2264/0278; B32B2264/0285; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/40; B32B2307/41; B32B2307/50; B32B2307/514; B32B2307/518; B32B2323/00; B32B2323/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/91; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/2495; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249971; Y10T428/249978; Y10T428/249986; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31909; Y10T428/31913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An improved opaque biaxially oriented polymeric film structure comprising: an expanded core thermoplastic polymer matrix material within which is located a strata of voids; positioned at least substantially within at least a substantial number of each of said voids, is at least one void-initiating solid particle which is phase distinct and incompatible with said matrix material, the void-space occupied by said particle being substantially less than the volume of said void, with one generally cross-sectional dimension of said particle at least approximating a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of said void and within which is a dispersion of a minor amount of a light absorbing colored pigment; and at least one void-free, transparent, thermoplastic skin layer adhering to the surface of said core layer, said skin layer being of a thickness such that the outer surfaces thereof do not, at least substantially, manifest the surface irregularities of said core layer; the population of voids in said core being such as to cause a degree of opacity having a light transmission of less than about 15%.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
An improved opaque biaxially oriented polymeric film structure comprising: an expanded core thermoplastic polymer matrix material within which is located a strata of voids; positioned at least substantially within at least a substantial number of each of said voids, is at least one void-initiating solid particle which is phase distinct and incompatible with said matrix material, the void-space occupied by said particle being substantially less than the volume of said void, with one generally cross-sectional dimension of said particle at least approximating a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of said void and within which is a dispersion of a minor amount of a light absorbing colored pigment; and at least one void-free, transparent, thermoplastic skin layer adhering to the surface of said core layer, said skin layer being of a thickness such that the outer surfaces thereof do not, at least substantially, manifest the surface irregularities of said core layer; the population of voids in said core being such as to cause a degree of opacity having a light transmission of less than about 15%.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said particle is inorganic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The film structure of claim 1 wherein said particle is an organic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said void-initiating particle is substantially spherical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The film structure of claim 3 wherein said organic material is a polymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said structure is a coextruded structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said structure is a laminated structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein the core thickness is from about 40 to about 85 wt. % of said structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein the pigment particles are of insufficient diameter to cause cavitation and said light absorbing colored pigment is substantially dispersed throughout said core only.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein the pigment is selected from brown, black, blue, green and red colored pigments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 10 wherein the color of said pigment is brown.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said skin layers are of the same polymeric material as said matrix material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said skin layers are of a different polymeric material from said matrix material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said voids have a dimension of X, Y and Z, wherein dimensions X and Y are major dimensions and dimension Z is a minor dimension at least generally corresponding to the diameter of said spherical particle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The structure of claim 12 wherein dimensions X and Y are multiples of dimension Z.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein the particles have an average diameter of about 0.5 to about 10 microns.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said core and skin polymer or polymers are polyolefin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
10 words
The structure of claim 17 wherein said polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 18 wherein the substantially spherical particles are of a polyester.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The structure of claim 19 wherein said polyester is polybutylene terephthalate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said pigment particles are dispersed throughout the skin layers or layer and the core.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
163 words
A process for preparing a film structure comprising: mixing a major proportion of a first thermoplastic polymeric material with a minor proportion of a second material of a higher melting point or having a higher glass transition temperature than said first material; heating the core mixture to a temperature of at least above the melting point of said first material; dispersing said second material uniformly throughout the molten first material in the form of microparticles; dispersing and intimately admixing therein an effective amount of a light absorbing colored pigment; forming a biaxially oriented core layer of said core mixture, said oriented layer having transparent thermoplastic skin film(s) adherent thereto; said core layer having been biaxially oriented at a temperature and to a degree to form a strata of opacifying closed cell voids of dimensions X, Y and Z wherein dimensions X and Y are major dimensions and dimension Z is a minor dimension at least generally corresponding to the diameter of said microparticles.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
163 words
A process for preparing a film structure comprising: mixing a major proportion of a first thermoplastic polymeric material with a minor proportion of a second material of a higher melting point or having a higher glass transition temperature than said first material; heating the core mixture to a temperature of at least above the melting point of said first material; dispersing said second material uniformly throughout the molten first material in the form of microparticles; dispersing and intimately admixing therein an effective amount of a light absorbing colored pigment; forming a biaxially oriented core layer of said core mixture, said oriented layer having transparent thermoplastic skin film(s) adherent thereto; said core layer having been biaxially oriented at a temperature and to a degree to form a strata of opacifying closed cell voids of dimensions X, Y and Z wherein dimensions X and Y are major dimensions and dimension Z is a minor dimension at least generally corresponding to the diameter of said microparticles.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the skin films or films are at least substantially void-free and of a thickness which will not manifest surface irregularities of said core layer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said core layer and skin films are formed by coextrusion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 24 wherein said core layer and skin films are biaxially oriented after said skin film(s) are adhered to said core layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 25 wherein the biaxial orientation is simultaneous.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 25 wherein the biaxial orientation is sequential.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 24 wherein said coextrusion is sequential with said skin extrusion following said core extrusion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 22 wherein said first thermoplastic polymeric material is a polyolefin.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 29 wherein said polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 29 wherein said second material is a polyester.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 31 wherein said polyester is polybutylene terephthalate.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 32 wherein said PBT and said polypropylene are co-melted.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 33 wherein said skin film is polypropylene.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
200 words
A process for preparing a film structure comprising: mixing a major proportion of polypropylene with a minor proportion of a PBT to form a core mixture; heating the mixture to effect melting of both materials; uniformly dispersing said PBT throughout the molten polypropylene in the form of microparticles; mixing a minor proportion of a light absorbent colored pigment with said melt and uniformly dispersing an effective amount of said light absorbent pigment throughout said melt mixture; reducing the temperature to below the melting point of the PBT while maintaining the polypropylene molten; melting a separate proportion of polypropylene; coextruding said core mixture with the melted polypropylene to form a core layer having skin films of polypropylene on both sides thereof; biaxially orienting the film structure at a temperature and to a degree to form a strata of opacifying closed cell voids in said core layer, said voids having dimensions X, Y and Z, wherein dimensions X and Y are major dimensions and dimension Z is a minor dimension at least generally corresponding to the diameter of said microparticles; said skin films being at least substantially void-free and of a thickness which will not manifest surface irregularities of said core layer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
200 words
A process for preparing a film structure comprising: mixing a major proportion of polypropylene with a minor proportion of a PBT to form a core mixture; heating the mixture to effect melting of both materials; uniformly dispersing said PBT throughout the molten polypropylene in the form of microparticles; mixing a minor proportion of a light absorbent colored pigment with said melt and uniformly dispersing an effective amount of said light absorbent pigment throughout said melt mixture; reducing the temperature to below the melting point of the PBT while maintaining the polypropylene molten; melting a separate proportion of polypropylene; coextruding said core mixture with the melted polypropylene to form a core layer having skin films of polypropylene on both sides thereof; biaxially orienting the film structure at a temperature and to a degree to form a strata of opacifying closed cell voids in said core layer, said voids having dimensions X, Y and Z, wherein dimensions X and Y are major dimensions and dimension Z is a minor dimension at least generally corresponding to the diameter of said microparticles; said skin films being at least substantially void-free and of a thickness which will not manifest surface irregularities of said core layer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 33 wherein said orientation temperature is greater than about 100° C.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 34 wherein said structure is oriented to form about 4 to about 10 times in both directions.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The film structure of claim 1 wherein said structure does not have any skin films adherent thereto.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein the skin layers are of a thickness which may manifest surface irregularities of the core layer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said light absorbing colored pigment is in at least one skin layer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-07-19 | 1992-01-18 | 1992-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-19 | 1996-01-18 | 1996-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-19 | 2000-01-18 | 2000-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |