Abstract: The present invention relates to a film, in particular to a laser writable film, and to substances used therein, and components thereof. The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing the film, uses thereof and products comprising the film.

Abstract: The present application concerns a coated film comprising a substantially biodegradable substrate having a biodegradable coating thereon at a coat weight of not more than 12 gsm, as well as useful articles sealed inside a package at least partly comprising such a film, and also a process for producing a coated film comprising providing a substantially biodegradable film substrate and applying a biodegradable coating to the substrate at a coat weight of less than 12 gsm by means of a hot melt coating step.

Abstract: There is described a label comprising a self supporting sheet of a biopolymer, preferably cellulose (e.g. regenerated cellulose, cellulose acetate and/or PLA) said sheet being substantially transparent to visible light when uncoated characterized in that the sheet comprises: (a) a first coating on at least one surface thereof to aid printability thereon; (b) a second coating comprising an adhesive dispersible in an aqueous medium; and (c) optionally a third coating to modify water permeability through the sheet. The labels are to be applied to articles such as glass containers. Preferred labels are wet glue cellulose labels for example where the first coating also comprises a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate to aid water permeability and hence rapid drying of the label on an article.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of viscose comprises the steps of: a) providing a non-dissolving pulp as a raw material; b) steeping the pulp in caustic solution; c) processing the steeped pulp; d) steeping the processed steeped pulp for a second time in caustic solution; and e) further processing the pulp from step d) to form a viscose solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transparent, dimensionally stable, biaxially oriented PLA film having a haze value of less than 3% and exhibiting strain induced crystallinity having been oriented by stretching the film from a substantially non-crystalline state by more than three times its original areal dimensions. The processes for making such films are also disclosed.

Abstract: A primer-less coating composition for facestock comprises: a binder being a water-dispersible polymer; an ethylenically unsaturated compound which is aqueous-dispersible and miscible with or bonded to said water-dispersible polymer, wherein said ethylenically unsaturated compound is able to form a covalent bond with an ink; and a crosslinker, wherein said crosslinker is suitable for binding the coating to the facestock. The coating composition may be applied to a substrate to form a printable film. A printed film in accordance with the invention may be used in a label, for example for use on a container such as a bottle.

Abstract: Authentication apparatus (1, 100) and methods which authenticate an item (4, 110) responsive to the detection that a portion of the item has one or more predetermined characteristics, the said predetermined characteristics comprising either or both the thickness of the said portion of the item, and the thickness of one or more layers within the said portion of the item, determined by optically-based thickness measuring apparatus (6, 102-108). The item may be a product and the portion of the item may be a sheet of packaging material. The item may be a security document and the portion of the item may be a sheet of security document substrate.

Abstract: An authentication apparatus operative to determine the authenticity of an item comprising a film substrate responsive to detection that a portion of said item located in a measuring region of said apparatus has a predetermined birefringence characteristic, said apparatus comprising: an item detection arrangement operative to determine if at least a portion of an item is located in a measuring region of said authentication apparatus; and an optically-based birefringence measuring apparatus, wherein said authentication apparatus is operative to compare a measured birefringence characteristic with a predetermined birefringence characteristic and to produce an authenticity signal indicative of authenticity or otherwise of said item based upon said comparison, said apparatus further comprising a control means operative to control output of said authenticity signal from said apparatus responsive to determination, by said item detection arrangement, of presence or otherwise of said at least a portion of said item in

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ionic liquid comprising an anion and a cation, wherein the cation is a primary, secondary or tertiary ammonium ion containing a protonated nitrogen atom.

Abstract: A ream wrap package formed by wrapping a sheet of polymeric film around a stack of paper, the sheet having at least one line of weakness formed therein, to form a rectangular tube with sides overlapping, sealing one side to the other to form a girth seal, closing the tube at each end to form an envelope seal with tucked in ends and overlapping flaps, at least one of which is trapezoidal, so that in the formed package there is at least one line of weakness extending along the whole length of a surface of the package outside the girth seal, positioned so that it terminates at each end of the package within a region of the transverse direction defined by that portion of the overlapping flaps where there are only two layers of overlapping film.

Abstract: The present invention provides an authentication apparatus operative to determine the authenticity of a polymer film, comprising: an optical response modifier operative to modify a first effect influenced by said birefringence characteristic of said to a modified first effect; and an optically-based birefringence measuring arrangement operative to measure said modified first effect; and wherein said apparatus is operative to: compare a value, or range of values, representative of said modified first effect as measured with a value, or range of values representative of a specified first effect as modified by a same optical response modifier and corresponding to a predetermined birefringence characteristic of an authentic polymer film; and output an authenticity signal indicative of authenticity or otherwise of said film based upon said comparison. There are also provided one or more methods of determining the authenticity of a polymer film.

Abstract: A primer-less coating composition for facestock comprises: a binder being a water-dispersible polymer; an ethylenically unsaturated compound which is aqueous-dispersible and miscible with or bonded to said water-dispersible polymer, wherein said ethylenically unsaturated compound is able to form a covalent bond with an ink; and a crosslinker, wherein said crosslinker is suitable for binding the coating to the facestock. The coating composition may be applied to a substrate to form a printable film. A printed film in accordance with the invention may be used in a label, for example for use on a container such as a bottle.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for detecting presence or otherwise of an item comprising at least two regions having different optical characteristics, said apparatus comprising: an emitter operative to illuminate a measuring region of said apparatus with electromagnetic radiation; and a detector located and operative to receive electromagnetic radiation reflected from said measuring region of said apparatus and operative to output a signal corresponding to a measured characteristic of said electromagnetic radiation reflected from said measuring region, wherein said apparatus is operative to compare said measured characteristic with a set of pre-defined characteristics, and further wherein if said measured characteristic is consistent with at least one of said pre-defined characteristics, the apparatus is operative to output a signal indicative of presence or otherwise of one of said at least two regions of said item in said measuring region.

Abstract: A sealable and peelable film comprising a four layer coextrudate comprising a core layer contributing predominantly towards the thickness of the film, a first sealing layer provided on one side of the core layer and a second sealing layer, or alternatively a laminating layer, provided on the other side of the core layer, and the film comprising a peeling layer in between the first sealing layer and the core layer and/or in between the second sealing layer, or alternatively the laminating layer, and the core layer, and wherein the peeling layer is adjacent the first sealing layer and/or the second sealing layer and/or the laminating layer, and wherein the relative thickness of the peeling layer and its adjacent sealing and/or lamination layer (p:s/l ratio) is from 1:10 to 5:1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ionic liquid comprising an anion and a cation, wherein the cation is a primary, secondary or tertiary ammonium ion containing a protonated nitrogen atom.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for manufacturing an in-mold labelled article, the process comprising the steps of: placing a label comprising a polyvinylidene chloride coated film (15) into a mold for injection molding, thermoforming, or blow molding; holding the label in position; injecting a polymeric melt into, or thermoforming or blowing a polymeric preform in said mold so as to bind with the label; and removing the article from the mold. A process of in-mold labelling using a label comprising a polyvinylidene chloride coated film is also disclosed.

Abstract: Transparent polypropylene film comprising at least two UV-absorbing additives, a first additive being a non-aggregated inorganic material present in the film composition in an amount of from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight, and a second additive comprising an organic material selected from triazines, hindered amines, oxanilides, cyanoacrylates, benzotriazoles and/or benzophenones and present in the film in an amount of less than 2.0% by weight and wherein when both benzotriazole(s) and benzophenone(s) are present in the film, the ratio of benzotriazole(s) to benzophenone(s) is above 0.5.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a biodegradable cigarette filter tow comprising composite filaments of cellulose and cellulose acetate, and a process for making such a filter tow comprising providing a solution dope comprising a blend of cellulose and cellulose acetate in an ionic liquid or in N-methylmorphilone-N-oxide (NMMO), and spinning casting the blend into a protic solvent to generate fibers or films, and converting the fibers or films into cigarette filter tow. The invention also concerns cigarette filters and cigarettes made from such a filter tow.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of manufacturing an in-mould labelled article, the method comprising the steps of: placing a label comprising a film having a core comprising polypropylene/polyethylene random copolymer as its principal polymeric constituent into a mould for injection moulding, thermoforming, or blow moulding; holding the label in position; injecting a polymeric melt into, or thermoforming or blowing a polymeric preform in said mould so as to bind with the label; and removing the article from the mould. A process of in-mould labelling using such a label is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ionic liquid comprising an anion and a cation wherein the cation is a primary, secondary or tertiary ammonium ion containing a protonated nitrogen atom.