Removable Adhesive Label Containing Inherently Shrinkable Polymeric Film

Abstract

An adhesive label includes a polymeric first film layer that is nonoriented and has a significant inherent shrinkage when heated above ambient temperature. The label is useful in various labeling applications and especially adhesive labeling of reusable and recyclable containers which require removal of the label during a washing process in a warm or hot washing fluid.

1 . A label, comprising:
 (a) a film having a first surface and a second surface and comprising a first film layer; and   (b) an adhesive layer having a first surface and a second surface and comprising an adhesive wherein the first surface of the adhesive layer is adhesively joined to the second surface of the film;   (c) wherein the first film layer comprises at least one non-oriented thermoplastic polymer wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a glass transition temperature in the range of from about 40° C. to about 190° C., and
 (i) a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in the machine direction after heating which is less than the tensile modulus in the machine direction in ambient air, or 
 (ii) an areal shrinkage (ASTM D1204) of at least about 5.3% after immersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes, or a combination of c(i) and c(ii). 
   
     
     
         2 . The label of  claim 1  wherein the first film layer has a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in the machine direction of at least about 800 MPa after immersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes. 
     
     
         3 . The label of  claim 1  wherein the thermoplastic polymer of the first film layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a cyclic olefin homopolymer, a cyclic olefin copolymer, and a mixture of two or more of any of the foregoing polymers. 
     
     
         4 . The label of  claim 1  wherein the thermoplastic polymer of the first film layer comprises a cyclic olefin copolymer derived from at least one cyclic olefin and at least one alpha-olefin. 
     
     
         5 . The label of  claim 1  wherein the film is a mono layered film. 
     
     
         6 . The label of  claim 1  wherein the film is a multilayered film. 
     
     
         7 . The label of  claim 1  wherein the first film layer comprises two or more layers wherein each of the two or more layers comprises at least one non-oriented thermoplastic polymer wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a glass transition temperature in the range of from about 40° C. to about 190° C., each of the two or more layers has (i) a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in the machine direction after heating which is less than the tensile modulus in the machine direction in ambient air; or (ii) each of the two or more layers has an areal shrinkage (ASTM D1204) of at least about 5.3% after immersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes; or a combination of (i) and (ii). 
     
     
         8 . The label of  claim 1  wherein the film comprises a second film layer wherein the second film layer comprises one or more layers wherein each of the one or more layers of the second film layer comprises at least one thermoplastic polymer, and each of the one or more layers of the second film layer has (i) a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in the machine direction after heating which is less than the tensile modulus in the machine direction in ambient air; or (ii) an areal shrinkage (ASTM D1204) of less than 5.3% after immersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes; or a combination of (i) and (ii). 
     
     
         9 . The label of  claim 8  wherein the first film layer has a first surface and a second surface, the second film layer has a first surface and a second surface, and the first surface of the second film layer underlies the second surface of the first film layer, and the first surface of the adhesive layer underlies the second surface of the second film layer. 
     
     
         10 . The label of  claim 8  wherein the second film layer has a first surface and a second surface, the first film layer has a first surface and a second surface, and the first surface of the first film layer underlies the second surface of the second film layer, and the first surface of the adhesive layer underlies the second surface of the first film layer. 
     
     
         11 . The label of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive of the adhesive layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         12 . The label of  claim 1  wherein the label further comprises a release liner having a first surface and a second surface wherein the first surface of the release liner is releasably attached to the second surface of the adhesive layer. 
     
     
         13 . The label of  claim 1  wherein the film is clear. 
     
     
         14 . A labeled container, comprising:
 the label of  claim 1 ; and   a container having a horizontal axis wherein the label is attached to the container wherein the second surface of the adhesive layer is adhesively joined to an outer surface of the container, and the machine direction or the transverse direction of the first film layer circumferentially follows the horizontal axis of the container.   
     
     
         15 . The labeled container of  claim 14  wherein the container is a cylindrically shaped container wherein the horizontal axis of the container is parallel to the circumference of the cylindrically shaped container. 
     
     
         16 . A method of removing a label from a container, comprising:
 (i) providing a labeled container of  claim 14 ;   (ii) removing the label from the container by immersing the container with the attached label in a liquid wherein the temperature of the liquid is at least about 50° C. and the label detaches from the container.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the liquid is water or a caustic aqueous solution.