Unidirectional Oriented Polyethylene-Based Heat Shrinkable Polymeric Label

Abstract

The present invention features pressure-sensitive labels produced from unidirectional heat shrinkable polyethylene films and their application to consumer products such as containers, tubes, bottles and batteries.

1 . A unidirectional-oriented polyethylene-based heat shrinkable label comprising a biaxial-oriented and subsequently uniaxial machine direction-oriented polyethylene film, wherein said film comprises between 50 wt % and 100 wt % polyethylene, that has unidirectional shrinkage of more than 20% in the machine direction and less than 5% shrinkage in the transverse direction at a temperature below the melting temperature of the film. 
     
     
         2 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene comprises High Density Polyethylene, Medium Density Polyethylene, Low Density Polyethylene, Linear-Low Density Polyethylene, Ultra Low Density Polyethylene or Very Low Density Polyethylene, High Molecular Weight High Density Polyethylene, or blends of homopolymers or copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The label of  claim 2 , further comprising one or more additives that improve processing properties, shrinkage properties, tensile properties or optical properties. 
     
     
         4 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein shrinkage of the label is greater than 40% in the machine direction. 
     
     
         5 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein said label is a monolayer or multilayered. 
     
     
         6 . The label of  claim 5 , wherein the label is multilayered and comprises a non-shrink film layer. 
     
     
         7 . The label of  claim 6 , wherein the non-shrink film layer comprises polyethylene or polypropylene. 
     
     
         8 . The label of  claim 5 , wherein the label is multilayered and comprises a transparent outer film layer. 
     
     
         9 . The label of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . The label of  claim 9 , wherein the adhesive has a high temperature shear strength of up to 71° C. 
     
     
         11 . The label of  claim 9 , further comprising a release liner. 
     
     
         12 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the label is further shrunk to a consumer product. 
     
     
         13 . A consumer product comprising
 a unidirectional-oriented polyethylene-based heat shrinkable label comprising a biaxial-oriented and subsequently uniaxial machine direction-oriented polyethylene film, wherein said film comprises between 50 wt % and 100 wt % polyethylene, that has unidirectional shrinkage of more than 20% in the machine direction and less than 5% shrinkage in the transverse direction at a temperature below the melting temperature of the film; and   a consumer product with the label applied thereto.   
     
     
         14 . The consumer product of  claim 13 , wherein the product is a container, bottle, tube or battery. 
     
     
         15 . The consumer product of  claim 14 , wherein the battery is a cylindrical dry cell battery. 
     
     
         16 . The consumer product of  claim 15 , wherein the label forms at least a 360° full wrap around the battery and wherein the height of the label extends beyond the ends of the battery. 
     
     
         17 . The consumer product of  claim 16 , wherein the label is heat shrunk to the battery so that the top and bottom ends of the battery are encased by the label. 
     
     
         18 . The consumer product of  claim 15 , wherein the tube is a flexible squeeze tube comprising a body and shoulder. 
     
     
         19 . The consumer product of  claim 18 , wherein the label forms at least a 360° full wrap and wherein the label is heat shrunk to the flexible squeeze tube so that the label extends over the shoulder of the tube. 
     
     
         20 . A method for labeling a consumer product comprising
 adhering a unidirectional-oriented polyethylene-based heat shrinkable label comprising a biaxial-oriented and subsequently uniaxial machine direction-oriented polyethylene film, wherein said film comprises between 50 wt % and 100 wt % polyethylene, that has unidirectional shrinkage of more than 20% in the machine direction and less than 5% shrinkage in the transverse direction at a temperature below the melting temperature of the film; and   shrinking the label to the consumer product, thereby labeling the consumer product.   
     
     
         21 . The label of  claim 1 , wherein the label is printed and cut to conform to a consumer product. 
     
     
         22 . The label of  claim 2 , further comprising an additive to impart functional properties. 
     
     
         23 . The label of  claim 5 , wherein one or more films of the label are produced by coextrusion. 
     
     
         24 . The label of  claim 5 , wherein one or more films of the label are produced by extrusion coating. 
     
     
         25 . The label of  claim 5 , wherein one or more films of the label are produced by coating. 
     
     
         26 . The label of  claim 1 , further comprising a varnish printed onto the film and having an additive therein to impart one or more functional properties. 
     
     
         27 . The label of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more functional properties includes coefficient of friction control.