Graphic article

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016002418-A1
Application number	US-201414761751-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2014
Priority date	Feb 5, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present application is directed to articles useful as graphic films. Specifically, the present application is directed to an article comprising a film layer, the film layer comprising a polymer blend comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and a polyvinyl butyral, and an adhesive layer adjacent the film layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An article comprising
a film layer, the film layer comprising a polymer blend comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and a polyvinyl butyral; and an adhesive layer adjacent the film layer.

2 . The article of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane is an aliphatic urethane.

3 . The article of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane is an aromatic urethane.

4 . The article of claim 1 wherein the film layer comprises a plasticizer.

5 . The article of claim 4 wherein the film layer comprises a polyester plasticizer.

6 . The article of claim 1 wherein the film layer comprises a colorant.

7 . The article of claim 1 wherein the film layer is hot melt processed.

8 . The article of claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer is a structured adhesive layer.

9 . The article of claim 1 comprising a primer layer between the adhesive layer and the film layer.

10 . The article of claim 1 comprising a release liner adjacent the adhesive layer opposite the film layer.

11 . The article of claim 1 comprising an image on the film layer.

12 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the article is fixed to a substrate.

13 . The article of claim 12 wherein the substrate is a vehicle.

14 . The article of claim 12 wherein the substrate is a rough surface.

15 . The article of claim 12 wherein the substrate has a compound curved surface.

16 . The article of claim 1 wherein the film layer is multiple layers.

17 . The article of claim 16 where one of the layers comprises a thermoplastic urethane and a polyvinyl butyral.

18 . The article of claim 11 comprising a protective clear layer on the image.

19 . An article comprising
a film layer, the film layer comprising a polymer blend comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and a polyvinyl butyral, wherein the film is less than 5 mil thick.

20 . The article of claim 19 wherein the film layer is multiple layers.

21 . The article of claim 19 comprising an image on one surface of the film.

22 . The article of claim 21 comprising a protective clear layer on the image.

23 . A method of displaying a graphic comprising
providing a substrate with an irregular surface; applying the article of claim 1 to the substrate, wherein the adhesive layer adheres the adhesive article to the substrate.

24 . The method of claim 23 wherein the substrate is a vehicle.

25 . The method of claim 23 wherein the substrate is a rough surface.

26 . An article comprising:
a film layer, the film layer comprising a polymer blend comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and a polyvinyl butyral, wherein the film layer is outdoor weatherable.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Steelman Ronald S
• Lyon Keith R

Classifications

• C09J7/22

  Plastics; Metallised plastics · CPC title

• C09J2459/006

  in the substrate · CPC title

• C08L75/04

  Polyurethanes · CPC title

• B44C1/105

  comprising an adhesive layer (decalcomania B44C1/16; adhesive tapes C09J7/20) · CPC title

• C08J2329/10

  Homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated ethers (C08J2335/08 takes precedence) · CPC title