Abstract: Clear and opaque polymeric film structures for providing clear and opaque labels that are removable, respectively. The film structure includes a core layer and first skin layer, wherein the first skin layer contains a polymeric matrix of a material that allows a label, which has been produced from the film structure and applied onto a container or product, to be removed from the container or product by the solution employed in a process for re-using the container. The first skin layer is co-extruded along with the remainder of the layers of the film structure, or the first skin layer is deposited on the film structure as an emulsion or extrusion coating. The first skin layer can be contacted with a water-based adhesive to affix the label onto a particular product or product container. Labels produced from the film structure exhibit a desirable combination of excellent initial adhesion strength, moisture resistance and delaminatability, as well as excellent removability.

Abstract: Clear and opaque polymeric film structures for providing clear and opaque labels that are removable, respectively. The film structure includes a core layer and first skin layer, wherein the first skin layer contains a polymeric matrix of a material that allows a label, which has been produced from the film structure and applied onto a container or product, to be removed from the container or product by the solution employed in a process for re-using the container. The first skin layer is co-extruded along with the remainder of the layers of the film structure, or the first skin layer is deposited on the film structure as an emulsion or extrusion coating. The first skin layer can be contacted with a water-based adhesive to affix the label onto a particular product or product container. Labels produced from the film structure exhibit a desirable combination of excellent initial adhesion strength, moisture resistance and delaminatability, as well as excellent removability.

Abstract: A clear polymeric label including a delaminatable mask layer is provided. The label includes a non-cavitated mask layer having a first side that is suitable for forming a cohesive bond with an adhesive, preferably a water-based adhesive. The cohesive bond between the first side of the mask layer and the adhesive is grater than the cohesive bond between the second side of the mask layer and its adjacent layer, whereby attempted removal of the label results in separation of the mask layer, which remains attached to the container, and masks the adhesive.

Abstract: Printable, coated plastic substrates are disclosed. Plastic substrates are preferably films substrates, which are coated with a printable coating composition layer which comprises: an anionic acrylic polymer; and epoxy acrylate in an amount sufficient to improve ink adhesion in said coating composition. The anionic acrylic polymer can be cross-linked to an extent sufficient to improve the resistance of said coating to isopropyl alcohol and/or hot water, using a cross-linking agent.

Abstract: Clear and opaque polymeric film structures for providing clear and opaque labels that are removable, respectively. The film structure includes a core layer and first skin layer, wherein the first skin layer contains a polymeric matrix of a material that allows a label, which has been produced from the film structure and applied onto a container or product, to be removed from the container or product by the solution employed in a process for re-using the container. The first skin layer is co-extruded along with the remainder of the layers of the film structure, or the first skin layer is deposited on the film structure as an emulsion or extrusion coating. The first skin layer can be contacted with a water-based adhesive to affix the label onto a particular product or product container. Labels produced from the film structure exhibit a desirable combination of excellent initial adhesion strength, moisture resistance and delaminatability, as well as excellent removability.

Abstract: A clear polymeric label including a delaminatable mask layer is provided. The label includes a non-cavitated mask layer having a first side that is suitable for forming a cohesive bond with an adhesive, preferably a water-based adhesive. The cohesive bond between the first side of the mask layer and the adhesive is greater than the cohesive bond between the second side of the mask layer and its adjacent layer, whereby attempted removal of the label results in separation of the mask layer, which remains attached to the container, and masks the adhesive.

Abstract: An improved PVOH-based coating solution for application to a polymeric substrate. The coating solution includes poly(vinyl alcohol), a formaldehyde-containing crosslinking agent and a crosslinking-promoting acid catalyst which lowers the pH of the solution to about 3.5 or less and, preferably, to about 3 or less. The coating solution exhibits improved viscosity stability, particularly with the addition of a second acid catalyst. The coating solution also provides improved crosslinking and oxygen barrier characteristics upon drying.

Abstract: A metallized multilayer film comprising a film substrate having a polymer core layer, e.g., a polypropylene homopolymer (OPP), on at least one surface of which is a polymer skin layer having a lower melting temperature than that of said core layer, the exposed surface of skin layer having been treated, e.g., flame or corona discharge treated, prior to coating to increase its adherence to other materials, the film substrate containing a metal deposit, e.g., aluminum, coated on the treated surface of the polymer skin layers, and a polymeric, low temperature sealable coating (LTSC) comprising a copolymer of about 10 to 35 wt. % of at least one .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, e.g., acrylic or methacrylic acid, with about 65 to 90 wt. % of ethylene, an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate, acrylonitrile, or mixtures thereof on the surface of the metal deposit.

Abstract: A metallized film substrate having a core layer comprising a film-forming base polymer, a metal receiving skin layer of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) on a surface of the core layer, the film substrate containing a metal deposit, e.g., aluminum, on the EVOH copolymer surface, and a polymeric low temperature sealable coating comprising a copolymer of about 10 to 35 wt. % of at least one .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid with about 65 to 90 wt. % of ethylene, an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate, acrylonitrile, or mixtures thereof, on the surface of said metal deposit. For adhesion of the EVOH, the core layer may either (i) be blended with a maleic anhydride modified polyolefin or (ii) have an adhesion-promoting tie layer of a maleic anhydride-modified polyolefin on a surface which is in contact with the EVOH.

Abstract: An adhesive coating which is pressure sealable to itself and non-blocking to a dissimilar coating is described. The coating comprises a blend of (a) a soft polymer having a measured glass transition temperature below room temperature; and (b) a hard polymer having a measured glass transition temperature which is above the measured glass transition temperature of the soft polymer (a). The soft polymer and the hard polymer are combined in a low blocking, pressure sealable coating formable proportion. A method of making the adhesive coating comprising the step of blending the soft polymer and the hard polymer and coated substrates formed from the adhesive coating are also described.

Abstract: A cold sealable emulsion-polymerized polymer cohesive formulation for coating a polyolefin film, preferably polypropylene, which has low surface tack characteristics and low blocking tendencies to an acrylic-based formulation prepared from the emulsion polymerization of acrylonitrile and one or more of a first soft monomer and a second functional monomer. A first soft monomer is any one of ethyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate, iso-octyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, 1,3-butadiene, vinylacetate and vinylidene chloride, and a second monomer is any one of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, sulfoethyl methacrylate and maleic acid. The monomers are combined in weight percent amounts sufficient to achieve a glass transition temperature of at least about -35.degree. C.

Abstract: Novel coated films are disclosed wherein a base polymer film, e.g., oriented isotactic polypropylene, is coated with a composition comprising a copolymer of about 65 to 95 wt. % ethylene and about 5 to 35 wt. % of acrylic or methacrylic acid (an "ethylene copolymer") based on the weight of the polymer in which about 2 to 80% of the carboxylate groups are neutralized with metal ions from Group Ia, IIa or IIb of the Periodic Table, preferably sodium ions. Preferably the coating also contains microcrystalline wax and fumed silica. The coated films exhibit good low temperature sealing properties accompanied by satisfactory hot tack and resistance of the seals to immersion in water.

Abstract: A low oxygen transmissive film combination having a substrate with a surface having a surface free energy of at least about 35 dynes/cm, a primer coating on one or both sides and an oxygen transmissive inhibiting layer of a poly(vinyl alcohol) and a cross-linking agent with a proportion of catalytically active sulfuric acid.

Abstract: As a means to improve the adhesiveness of a wax coated surface on a polypropylene substrate film, so that a thermal stripe seal can be suitably adhered thereto, an adhesive promoting composition comprising a neutralized olefin-unsaturated acid ionomer, and a cross-linkable formaldehyde resin admixed into and applied to the polypropylene surface together with, an emulsion of wax and a binder therefore. The preferred ionomer is surlyn resin and the preferred cross-linkable resin is melamine-formaldehyde.

Abstract: A coating composition for application to a thermoplastic film, such as polypropylene film, the coated film and the method for coating the film are disclosed. The coating composition includes an acrylic copolymer, a slip agent and, optionally, a water dispersible wax. The acrylic copolymer can be an emulsion or a solution. The acrylic copolymer preferably includes at least 5 weight percent of a polar, functional comonomer; has an average molecular weight of at least about 10,000; and has a glass transition temperature of about 30.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C.

Abstract: An oriented heat sealable multilayer structure. The structure comprises a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the substrate comprising a polyolefin film; a polymeric heat sealable layer on the first surface of the substrate, the layer comprising a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and butene-1, a random copolymer of ethylene and propylene, and blends thereof; a primer coating on the second surface of the substrate; and a water vapor and gas barrier layer on the primer coating, the water vapor and gas barrier layer selected from the group consisting of a vinylidene chloride copolymer containing at least about 50% of vinylidene chloride and an interpolymer comprising a minor amount of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or mixtures thereof and a major amount of neutral monomer esters comprising methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A cold sealable emulsion polymerized terpolymer cohesive formulation which has low surface tack characteristics, prepared from the emulsion polymerization of a first monomer selected from the group consisting of ethyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate, isooctyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, methyl acrylate and vinylidene chloride, a second monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, styrene, ethyl methacrylate and isobutyl methacrylate and a third monomer selected from the group consisting of methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, itaconic acid, sulfoethyl methacrylate and malic acid with the proviso that each of said first, second and third monomers are different.

Abstract: A semi-continuous, multi-stage polymerization process is provided for synthesizing a heat-sealable multi-layered composite particle latex. The multi-layered composite latex particles of this invention provide excellent oxygen and vapor barrier properties without hindering the desired surface properties, including high heat-sealing strength, low minimal seal temperature, excellent machinability, i.e. low blocking and low coefficient of friction. The latex particles of the present invention are formed as three-layered composite particles having an acrylic ester seed layer composed of a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate. The latex particles have an intermediate core layer composed of a terpolymer having a high vinylidene chloride concentration, the other comonomers of the core layer include methyl acrylate and methacrylic acid.

Abstract: A coating composition for application to a thermoplastic film, such as polypropylene film, the coated film and the method for coating the film are disclosed. The coating composition includes an acrylic copolymer, a slip agent and, optionally, a water dispersible wax. The acrylic copolymer can be an emulsion or a solution. The acrylic copolymer preferably includes at least 5 weight percent of a polar, functional comonomer; has an average molecular weight of at least about 10,000; and has a glass transition temperature of about 30.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C.

Abstract: A semi-continuous, multi-stage polymerization process is provided for synthesizing a heat-sealable multi-layered composite particle latex. The multi-layered composite latex particles of this invention provide excellent oxygen and vapor barrier properties without hindering the desired surface properties, including high heat-sealing strength, low minimal seal temperature, excellent machinability, i.e. low blocking and low coefficient of friction. The latex particles of the present invention are formed as three-layered composite particles having an acrylic ester seed layer composed of a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate. The latex particles have an intermediate core layer composed of a terpolymer having a high vinylidene chloride concentration, the other comonomers of the core layer include methyl acrylate and methacrylic acid.