Invented by Kenya Ito, Hiroyuki Iizuka, Shino SATO, Yasuhiro Shiraishi, JNC Corp

The market for laminated film has been experiencing significant growth in recent years, driven by various factors such as increasing demand from the packaging industry, rising consumer awareness about product safety and hygiene, and the growing popularity of flexible packaging solutions. Laminated film refers to a multi-layered film made by bonding two or more layers of different materials together. These layers can include plastic films, aluminum foil, paper, or other materials, depending on the specific requirements of the application. The lamination process enhances the properties of the film, making it more durable, resistant to moisture, and providing excellent barrier properties against oxygen, light, and other external factors. One of the key drivers of the laminated film market is the packaging industry. With the rise of e-commerce and the increasing demand for convenience, the need for efficient and attractive packaging solutions has grown significantly. Laminated films offer numerous benefits for packaging applications, such as extended shelf life, improved product protection, and enhanced visual appeal. They are widely used in food packaging, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other consumer goods. Another factor contributing to the growth of the laminated film market is the growing consumer awareness about product safety and hygiene. Laminated films provide an effective barrier against contaminants, ensuring the integrity and quality of the packaged products. This is particularly important in the food industry, where maintaining freshness and preventing spoilage are critical. Laminated films also help in preserving the nutritional value of the packaged food items, making them an ideal choice for food manufacturers and consumers alike. Flexible packaging solutions have gained immense popularity in recent years, and laminated films play a crucial role in this trend. Flexible packaging offers several advantages over traditional rigid packaging, such as reduced material usage, lower transportation costs, and improved product-to-package ratio. Laminated films provide the necessary strength and flexibility required for these applications, allowing manufacturers to create innovative and convenient packaging solutions. The laminated film market is also driven by technological advancements in the industry. Manufacturers are constantly developing new materials and improving the lamination process to meet the evolving needs of the market. For instance, the development of high-barrier films with excellent oxygen and moisture resistance has opened up new opportunities in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. Additionally, the introduction of eco-friendly laminated films made from recyclable materials has gained traction among environmentally conscious consumers. In terms of regional growth, Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the laminated film market due to the presence of a large consumer base, rapid industrialization, and increasing disposable incomes. North America and Europe are also significant markets, driven by the demand for sustainable packaging solutions and stringent regulations regarding product safety and quality. In conclusion, the market for laminated film is witnessing robust growth due to the increasing demand from the packaging industry, rising consumer awareness about product safety, and the popularity of flexible packaging solutions. With ongoing technological advancements and the focus on sustainability, the laminated film market is expected to continue its upward trajectory in the coming years.

The JNC Corp invention works as follows

The laminated film is a three-layer material that includes a top layer of a polycarbonate thermoplastic polyurethane and a substrate layer of urethane acrylicate. In this order, the adhesive layer, which contains a pressure-sensitive adhesive, comes in contact with a layer of urethaneacrylate. Preferably, the top coating layer includes a unit derived from ?-methacryloxypropylhepta(trifluoropropyl)-T8-silsesquioxane.

Background for Laminated film

Field of Invention

The present invention is a laminated material that can be used to make a paint-protection film.

Description of Related Art.

Paint protection film (PPF), a product similar to a film, is used as a surface protector for industrial products used outdoors. The PPF has a basic structure that is a laminate with at least two layers, including a substrate of flexible and transparent resin films and an adhesive layer. On the market, you can find a laminated sheet that has a coating for improving the stain-proofing and scratch-resistance of a substrate. It also includes a release film on the opposite side of the adhesive. The PPF must be cut to fit the surface to be protected. Next, an adhesive layer from the PPF cut to size is placed in close contact with the target surface. The PPF protects a product from external stimuli such as dust, sand and river water. It also protects the product from microorganisms, contact or excretions from animals, plants, insects, etc. The PPF acts as a cushion that absorbs pressure and repels dirt and rainwater. The product is protected from external stimuli.

Initially, a PPF like this was designed for industrial products that were used in harsh environments, such as airplanes. However, it has become popular today as a protective member on the surface of an automobile or motorbike. When a roof or hood of an automobile is covered with a protective film, it can protect the body from bird feces and insect carcasses. It also helps to prevent scratches caused by stones, mischievous actions, and malicious acts. When a PPF-covered surface is cleaned with water, it’s possible to remove dirt from the PPF surface. This allows the PPF to perform for a long time. The PPF can be removed from the body after a period of use and replaced by a new PPF.

Due to the rapid spread of automobiles and motorcycles around the world, PPFs are in demand in a wider range of environments. For example, they can be used for harsher climates, such as in colder areas, tropical regions, or arid zones. With the growth of the PPF industry, it is important that PPFs can be applied easily by workers without any special skills. In recent PPFs there has been a need for various performance aspects such as adaptability to the different surface shapes of motorbikes and automobiles, durability for long-term stimulation, transparency, smoothness, and detachability.

In Patent Document 1, for example, a PPF with excellent adhesion characteristics is described. It is made by laminating an adhesive layer and a substrate film whose surface roughness has been controlled. In this PPF however, the stainproof coating added to the surface of the substrate was not examined in detail, and it was found to be a problem for motorbikes and automobiles, whose exteriors were considered important.

In Patent Document 2, for example, is described a PPF where a first polyurethane layer, a second thermoplastic polyurethane layer, and a final pressure-sensitive adhesive layer are laminated together in this order. This PPF still needs to be improved in many aspects.

CITATION LIST

Patent Documents

Patent Document No. 2016-20079, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication. 2016-20079.

Translation of PCT Application No. 2008-539107. 2008-539107.

Problems that need to be solved

The inventors have studied the configuration of an ideal laminate to improve different aspects of performance for a PPF.

Means for Solving the Problems

The inventors concluded that a laminated sheet with a three-layer construction, in which the top coating layer is a polycarbonate thermoplastic polyurethane and the substrate layer includes a urethane acrylicate cured product are in contact, exhibits many of the performance requirements for a PPF. This includes excellent weather and heat resistance. The inventors also found that a laminated film with a top coating layer containing a fluorine containing compound, and typically an urethane acrylicate cured product containing a structural element derived from a derivative of fluorosilsesquioxane, exhibited excellent performance. The present invention can be described as follows.

(1) A laminated sheet with a three-layer construction in which the top coating layer contains a polycarbonate thermoplastic polyurethane product, the substrate layer is made of polycarbonate, and then an adhesive layer of pressure sensitive adhesive.

(2) The laminated films according to (1) where the urethane-acrylate-cured product contains fluorine atoms.

(3) The laminated films according to (1) or 2), wherein the product urethane-acrylate is cured and includes a structural element derived from the fluorosilsesquioxane derivate represented by Formula (1).

In Formula (1), Rf 1 through Rf 7 independently represent a linear or branched fluoroalkyl groups having 1-20 carbon atoms, or a methylene-containing group in which the methylene atom may be replaced with oxygen, or a Fluoroaryl Group having 6-20 carbon atoms, in which a minimum of one hydrogen is substituted by fluorine, or a Trifluoromethyl Group; or, a Fluoroarylalkyl

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