Non-PVC Film and Non-PVC Film Laminate

Abstract

The present invention relates to a non-PVC film and film laminate for use in marketing, advertising campaigns, particularly outdoor or other environment impacted promotions and safety applications. The film is in one exemplary embodiment includes two layers, a top layer and a bottom layer. The top layer is a urethane-acrylic hybrid polymer and the bottom layer is a non-PVC based polymer. The film may be transparent, translucent, clear or have other desirable optical properties.

1 . An optically transparent protective film comprising:
 a top layer; and   a bottom layer substantially coextensive with the top layer, and   wherein the top layer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurethane-acrylic copolymer, polyurethane-acrylic blend and urethane-acrylic hybrid polymer; and   the bottom layer is comprised of a non-PVC based polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The film as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the non-PVC based polymer is selected from the group consisting of an emulsion based polymer, a solvent based polymer, and an extruded polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The film as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the non-PVC based polymer is an acrylic polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The film as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an adhesive layer, and   wherein the adhesive layer is in contact with the bottom layer.   
     
     
         5 . The film as recited in  claim 1 , further including at least one additive in at least one of the top and bottom layers of the film. 
     
     
         6 . A film as recited in  claim 5  wherein the at least one additive is selected from the group consisting of UV stabilizing agents, free-radical scavengers, cross-linking agents, thickeners, flow and leveling agents, rheology modifiers, surfactants, defoamers, dispersants, wetting agents, dyes, pigments, co-solvents, water, isopropyl alcohol and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A film laminate comprising:
 a top layer;   a bottom layer;   an intermediate layer;   a substrate layer, and   wherein the top layer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurethane-acrylic copolymer, polyurethane-acrylic blend and urethane-acrylic hybrid polymer;   the bottom layer includes a non-PVC based polymer;   and the substrate layer having printed or image indicia thereon.   
     
     
         8 . The film laminate as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the intermediate layer is selected from a group including an adhesive layer, a tie coating layer and an adhesive promotion layer. 
     
     
         9 . The film laminate as recited in  claim 7 , further including at least one additive in at least one of the top, intermediate and bottom layers of the film. 
     
     
         10 . The film laminate as recited in  claim 9  wherein the at least one additive is selected from the group consisting of UV stabilizing agents, free-radical scavengers, cross-linking agents, thickeners, flow and leveling agents, rheology modifiers, surfactants, defoamers, dispersants, wetting agents, dyes, pigments, co-solvents, water, isopropyl alcohol and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . An advertising or informational graphic, comprising:
 a surface having promotional indicia provided thereon;   a film having front and back faces, with the back face in contact with the surface;   the film including a first layer and a second layer substantially beneath the first layer, and an adhesive layer beneath the second layer opposite the first layer; and   wherein the first layer includes a urethane-acrylic hybrid polymer and the second layer includes non-PVC based polymer.   
     
     
         12 . An advertising or informational graphic, comprising:
 a surface;   an adhesive layer;   a printable substrate having front and back faces, with the back face facing the surface and in contact with the adhesive layer and the front face having promotional indicia provided thereon;   a transparent film having a top layer and a bottom layer, with the bottom layer facing the front face of the printable substrate; and   wherein the top layer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurethane-acrylic copolymer, polyurethane-acrylic blend and urethane-acrylic hybrid polymer; and   the bottom layer includes non-PVC based polymer.   
     
     
         13 . The advertising graphic as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the surface is selected from the group consisting of architectural, transportational, artistic, aesthetic, safety devices, road signs, automotive exterior and interior, military, safety devices road signs, exterior automotive and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The advertising graphic as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the adhesive layer includes an adhesive selected from the group consisting of a permanent adhesive, a removable adhesive, a repositionable adhesive, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The advertising graphic as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the promotional indicia is selected from the group consisting of alpha and/or numeric characters, images and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The advertising graphic as recited in  claim 12 , wherein a substrate layer is provided over one of the first and second layers. 
     
     
         17 . The advertising graphic as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the substrate layer includes an ink layer. 
     
     
         18 . The advertising graphic as recited in  claim 12 , further including at least one additive in at least one of the top and bottom layers of the film. 
     
     
         19 . The advertising graphic as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one additive is selected from the group consisting of UV stabilizing agents, free-radical scavengers, cross-linking agents, thickeners, flow and leveling agents, rheology modifiers, surfactants, defoamers, dispersants, wetting agents, dyes, pigments, co-solvents, water, isopropyl alcohol and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A roll or sheet of graphic advertising film, comprising;
 a film having at least first and second layers, the first layer includes a urethane-acrylic hybrid polymer and the second layer includes non-PVC emulsion based polymer; and   one of the first and second layers provided in operative association with advertising indicia.   
     
     
         21 . The roll or sheet of graphic advertising film as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the film further includes an adhesive layer provided on one of the first and second layers. 
     
     
         22 . The roll or sheet of graphic advertising film as recited in  claim 21 , wherein a release layer is provided over the adhesive layer. 
     
     
         23 . The roll or sheet of graphic advertising film as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the film further includes a substrate layer provided over one of the first and second layers. 
     
     
         24 . The roll or sheet of graphic advertising film as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the substrate layer includes a print layer. 
     
     
         25 . The roll or sheet of graphic advertising film as recited in  claim 20 , further including at least one additive in at least one of the first and second layers of the film. 
     
     
         26 . The roll or sheet of graphic advertising film as recited in  claim 25  wherein the at least one additive is selected from the group consisting of UV stabilizing agents, free-radical scavengers, cross-linking agents, thickeners, flow and leveling agents, rheology modifiers, surfactants, defoamers, dispersants, wetting agents, dyes, pigments, co-solvents and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . A transparent film for use in outdoor environment, comprising polymers selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurethane-acrylic copolymer, polyurethane-acrylic blend and urethane-acrylic hybrid polymer.