Aqueous film-forming mixtures and conformable films and articles made therefrom

Abstract

This invention relates to an aqueous film-forming mixture which does not contain a vinyl halide and which can be utilized to prepare conformable films which are useful in various applications such as adhesive tapes, labels and decorative sheets. The aqueous film-forming mixtures generally comprise, based on the weight of the solids in the aqueous mixture, (A) from about 50% to about 80% by weight of an acrylic-urethane copolymer which forms a film having an elongation at break of at least about 300%, and (B) from about 5% to about 25% by weight of an acrylic polymer or copolymer having a T g of less than about 55° C., wherein the acrylic polymer or copolymer (B) is different from the acrylic-urethane copolymer (A). The aqueous mixtures also may contain up to about 40% by weight of a pigment. These aqueous film-forming mixtures are useful in preparing conformable films and other articles such as adhesive articles which comprise an adhesive layer and a layer of the conformable film of this invention which is adhered to the adhesive layer. The conformable films of the present invention may be printed with various graphics, and the films are die-cuttable.

1 . An aqueous film-forming mixture free of PVC and comprising, based on the weight of the solids in the aqueous mixture, (A) from about 50% to about 80% by weight of an acrylic-urethane copolymer which forms a film having an elongation at break of at least about 300%, (B) from about 5% to about 25% by weight of an acrylic polymer or copolymer having a T 9  of less than about 55° C., wherein the acrylic polymer or copolymer (B) is not an acrylic-urethane copolymer, and (C) from about 20% to about 40% by weight of at least one pigment.  
   
   
       2 . The aqueous mixture of  claim 1  wherein the acrylic-urethane copolymer (A) is an aliphatic urethane-acrylic copolymer.  
   
   
       3 . The aqueous mixture of  claim 1  wherein the T g  of the acrylic polymer or copolymer (B) is from about −15° to about 50° C.  
   
   
       4 . The aqueous mixture of  claim 1  wherein the pigment is titanium dioxide.