Polymeric Sheets and Articles Wrapped Therewith

Abstract

A polymeric sheet having low density and comprising a low to non-existent amount of cyclic olefinic polymers (COP) and/or cyclic olefinic copolymers (COC). The overall density of the sheet may be lower than water. The sheet may be stretched and then heat shrinked onto an article. The sheet may be used as a label or package to wrap articles therewith.

1 . A polymeric sheet stretched along the machine direction, and comprising 50% or less, preferably 40% or less, Cyclic Olefinic Copolymer and/or Cyclic Olefinic Polymer (hereinafter COC/COP). 
   
   
       2 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one layer made of COC/COP blended with at least one other polymeric substance. 
   
   
       3 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a. one or more layer made of COC/COP, optionally blended with one or more other polymeric substance; and   b. one or more layer free of COC/COP.   
   
   
       4 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 1 , produced in a short gap stretching process. 
   
   
       5 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 1 , having thickness of from 40 to 50 micrometers. 
   
   
       6 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 1 , having thickness of from 20 to 30 micrometers. 
   
   
       7 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 1 , used as a label or package, wrapped around an article and heat shrinked thereto. 
   
   
       8 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 1 , used as a twist-wrap for articles. 
   
   
       9 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 8 , wherein the article is a candy. 
   
   
       10 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 1 , adapted to undergo shrinkage in a monoaxial direction to 85% of it's original dimension or less, the shrink thus being 15% or more, upon heating of the sheet to 100° C. or less and having a density less than the density of water. 
   
   
       11 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 1 , adapted to undergo shrinkage in a monoaxial direction to 60% of it's original dimension or less, the shrink thus being 40% or more, when heated and having a density less than the density of water. 
   
   
       12 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 1 , used to envelope a container having an outer surface including at least two portions having different cross-sectional diameters; wherein said polymeric sheet circumferentially envelopes at least said two portions of the outer surface, closely and substantially uniformly following the contour of said portions, characterized in that the polymeric sheet has a density less than the density of water. 
   
   
       13 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 1 , comprising at least two materials, wherein at least one of the at least two materials has a density greater than the density of water. 
   
   
       14 . An article wrapped around with a label or package made of a sheet according to  claim 1 , heat shrinked around the article. 
   
   
       15 . An article according to  claim 14 , obtained by steam shrinking said label onto the article. 
   
   
       16 . An article, preferably a candy, twist-wrapped in a polymeric sheet according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       17 . Use of a polymeric sheet according to  claim 1  as a twist-wrap for candies. 
   
   
       18 . A process for labeling a product with a polymeric sheet, the process comprising:
 a. wrapping the sheet around the article; and   b. heating the labeled article as to let the label shrink to follow the article's shape;
 characterized in that said polymeric sheet is according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
   
       19 . A process according to  claim 18 , wherein the heating in b is to 100° C. or less, preferably by steam. 
   
   
       20 . An article twist-wrapped with a stretched polymeric film comprising COC/COP. 
   
   
       21 . An article according to  claim 20 , wherein said film is stretched in the machine direction. 
   
   
       22 . An article according to  claim 20 , wherein said film is stretched in the short gap stretching method. 
   
   
       23 . An article according to  claim 20 , wherein said film comprises at most 50% COC, more preferably at most 40% COC, and most preferably, about 30% COC. 
   
   
       24 . A method for wrapping an article, preferably a candy, the method comprising wrapping around said article a polymeric film and twisting said polymeric film in the vicinity of the edges of said article, characterized in that said film is a stretched polymeric film comprising COC/COP. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein said film is stretched in the machine direction. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein said film is stretched in the short gap stretching method. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein said film comprises at most 50% COC, more preferably at most 40% COC, and most preferably, about 30% COC. 
   
   
       28 . A polymeric sheet adapted to undergo shrinkage in a monoaxial direction to 85% of it's original dimension or less, the shrink thus being 15% or more, upon heating of the sheet to 100° C. or less and having a density less than the density of water. 
   
   
       29 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 28 , wherein said shrinkage is in the machine direction (MD). 
   
   
       30 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 28 , wherein said shrinkage is in the transverse machine direction (TD). 
   
   
       31 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 28 , comprising at least two materials, wherein at least one of the at least two materials has a density greater than the density of water. 
   
   
       32 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 31 , wherein said materials are in the form of layers. 
   
   
       33 . A method for labeling a product with a polymeric sheet, the process comprising:
 enveloping the article with the polymeric sheet and heating the labeled article to let the label shrink to follow the article's shape, characterized in that said polymeric sheet is according to  claim 28 .   
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein said enveloping is done by wrap around. 
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein said enveloping is done by sleeving. 
   
   
       36 . A polymeric sheet adapted to undergo shrinkage in a monoaxial direction to 60% of it's original dimension or less, the shrink thus being 40% or more, when heated and having a density less than the density of water. 
   
   
       37 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 36 , wherein the shrinkage is in the machine direction (MD). 
   
   
       38 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 36 , wherein the shrinkage is in the transverse machine direction (TD). 
   
   
       39 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 36 , wherein the temperature to which said sheet is heated does not exceed 130° C. 
   
   
       40 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 36 , comprising at least two materials, wherein at least one of the at least two materials has a density greater than the density of water. 
   
   
       41 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 40 , wherein the at least one material is polystyrene (PS) or PETg (Poly (ethylene terephthalate) glycol). 
   
   
       42 . A polymeric sheet according to  claim 40 , wherein said materials are in the form of layers. 
   
   
       43 . A method for labeling a product with a polymeric sheet, the process comprising:
 enveloping the article with the polymeric sheet and heating the labeled article to let the label shrink to follow the article's shape, characterized in that said polymeric sheet is according to  claim 36 .   
   
   
       44 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein said enveloping is done by wrap around. 
   
   
       45 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein said enveloping is done by sleeving. 
   
   
       46 . An article comprising:
 a container having an outer surface including at least two portions having different cross-sectional diameters; and   a polymeric sheet that circumferentially envelopes at least said two portions of the outer surface, closely and substantially uniformly following the contour of said portions, characterized in that the polymeric sheet has a density less than the density of water.   
   
   
       47 . An article according to  claim 46 , wherein said diameters differ by at least 15%, more preferably by more than 25%. 
   
   
       48 . An article according to  claim 46 , wherein said polymeric sheet was heat shrinked onto the article. 
   
   
       49 . An article according to  claim 48 , wherein said heat was caused by steam. 
   
   
       50 . An article according to  claim 46 , wherein the sheet is enveloped using wrap around method. 
   
   
       51 . An article according to  claim 46 , wherein the sheet is enveloped using sleeving method. 
   
   
       52 . A polymeric sheet stretched monoaxially and comprising 50% or less, preferably 40% or less, Cyclic Olefinic Copolymer and/or Cyclic Olefinic Polymer.