Surface Treated Film and/or Laminate

Abstract

A surface treatment for a protective plastic film and/or laminate is disclosed. Suitably, the surface treatment includes coating a major surface of the plastic film or laminate with a curable coating formulation wherein one or more of the coating ingredients are diffused or migrated at least partially into the plastic film or plastic laminate. The migration of coating ingredients creates a gradual transition layer from the plastic film to the coating layer and leads to unique properties. Optionally, the surface treated plastic film is laminated to a release liner coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) to form the aforementioned laminate.

1 . A protective sheet comprising:
 a solid plastic film with an upper and a lower surface, and   a surface treatment region including one or more ingredients applied as a coating composition to the upper surface of said film, wherein said one or more coating ingredients diffuses at least partially into the film causing significant changes in at least one of the mechanical properties, optical properties, chemical resistance, and surface properties of the film, and the coating composition is thermally curable.   
     
     
         2 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic film is a polyurethane (PU), or a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film. 
     
     
         3 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic film consists of a multilayered film. 
     
     
         4 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the coating composition comprises:
 at least one compound bearing hydroxyl functional groups, and   at least one crosslinker capable of reacting with the hydroxyl groups.   
     
     
         5 . The protective sheet of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one compound bearing hydroxyl functional groups further includes hydrophobic groups. 
     
     
         6 . The protective sheet of  claim 5 , wherein the hydrophobic groups comprise at least one of hydrocarbon groups, silicone groups, and fluorinated groups. 
     
     
         7 . The protective sheet of  claim 4 , wherein the coating composition further comprises at least one carrier fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The protective sheet of  claim 4 , wherein the coating composition further comprises nano-sized particles including at least one of nano-sized organic particles, nano-sized inorganic-particles, and nano-sized organic-inorganic hybrid particles. 
     
     
         9 . The protective sheet of  claim 4 , wherein the coating composition further comprises at least one of organic or inorganic matting agent. 
     
     
         10 . The protective sheet of  claim 8 , wherein the nano-sized particle is a material derived from a silsesquinoxane compound. 
     
     
         11 . The protective sheet of  claim 8 , wherein the nano-sized particle is a silica particle. 
     
     
         12 . The protective sheet of  claim 8 , wherein the nano-sized particle includes reactive functional groups capable of reacting with the crosslinker. 
     
     
         13 . The protective sheet of  claim 4 , wherein the coating composition further comprises at least one reaction catalyst. 
     
     
         14 . The protective sheet of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one reaction catalyst consists of an organo-metallic compound. 
     
     
         15 . The protective sheet of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one crosslinker is an isocyanate or polyisocyanate based crosslinker. 
     
     
         16 . The protective sheet of  claim 4 , wherein the coating composition further comprises a colorant. 
     
     
         17 . The protective sheet of  claim 4 , wherein the hydroxyl bearing compound accounts for 10% to 85 wt % and the crosslinker accounts for 90 to 15 wt % based on the total solids in the composition. 
     
     
         18 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is free of a defined boundary which divides the coating and film into separate distinct layers. 
     
     
         19 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the coating composition is diffused into the plastic film thereby carrying one or more coating ingredients therewith. 
     
     
         20 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the coating composition exhibits two-way diffusion with a low surface energy component preferentially migrating to the upper surface and one or more components diffusing into the plastic film. 
     
     
         21 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein at least 10% of the coating ingredients diffuse into the plastic film. 
     
     
         22 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein at least 20% of the coating ingredients diffuse into the plastic film. 
     
     
         23 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein at least 30% of the coating ingredients diffuse into the plastic film. 
     
     
         24 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein at least 40% of the coating ingredients diffuse into the plastic film. 
     
     
         25 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein at least 50% of the coating ingredients diffuse into the plastic film. 
     
     
         26 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the coating ingredients diffused into the plastic film gradually decreases with depth into the plastic film. 
     
     
         27 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the diffusion of the coating ingredients into the plastic film creates a new composition for the surface treatment region disposed above the plastic film which is different from the initial coating composition. 
     
     
         28 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the coating composition is diffused more than 3 μm into the plastic film. 
     
     
         29 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the coating composition is diffused more than 5 μm into the plastic film. 
     
     
         30 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the coating composition is diffused more than 10 μm into the plastic film. 
     
     
         31 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the coating composition is diffused more than 25 μm into the plastic film. 
     
     
         32 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the coating which remains on the upper surface of the plastic film is less than 50 μm. 
     
     
         33 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the coating which remains on the upper surface of the plastic film is less than 25 μm. 
     
     
         34 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the coating which remains on the upper surface of the plastic film is less than 10 μm. 
     
     
         35 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the coating which remains on the upper surface of the plastic film is less than 5 μm. 
     
     
         36 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the coating which remains on the upper surface of the plastic film is less than 3 μm. 
     
     
         37 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the applied wet coat weight of the coating composition is between about 0.1 μm and about 100 μm. 
     
     
         38 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic film is treated discontinuously. 
     
     
         39 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the treated plastic film contains textures on the surface. 
     
     
         40 . The protective sheet in  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is affixed to an article. 
     
     
         41 . The protective sheet in  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the body of an automobile. 
     
     
         42 . The protective sheet in  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the body, the screen, or both the body and the screen of a consumer electronic device. 
     
     
         43 . The protective sheet in  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is affixed to an electrical appliance. 
     
     
         44 . The protective sheet in  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the body of a ship. 
     
     
         45 . The protective sheet in  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the blade of a wind energy generator. 
     
     
         46 . The protective sheet in  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the body of an airplane. 
     
     
         47 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet can withstand at least 40% elongation without failing. 
     
     
         48 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet can withstand at least 70% elongation without failing. 
     
     
         49 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet can withstand at least 100% elongation without failing. 
     
     
         50 . The protective sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet can withstand at least 150% elongation without failing. 
     
     
         51 . The protective sheet in  claim 39 , wherein the sheet is affixed to an article. 
     
     
         52 . The protective sheet in  claim 39 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the body of an automobile. 
     
     
         53 . The protective sheet in  claim 39 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the body, the screen, or both the body and the screen of a consumer electronic device. 
     
     
         54 . The protective sheet in  claim 39 , wherein the sheet is affixed to an electrical appliance. 
     
     
         55 . The protective sheet in  claim 39 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the body of a ship. 
     
     
         56 . The protective sheet in  claim 39 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the blade of a wind energy generator. 
     
     
         57 . The protective sheet in  claim 39 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the body of an airplane. 
     
     
         58 . A protective sheet comprising:
 a solid plastic film with an upper and a lower surface, and   a surface treatment region including one or more ingredients applied as a coating composition to the upper surface of said film, wherein said one or more coating ingredients diffuse at least partially into the film causing significant changes in at least one of the mechanical properties, optical properties, chemical resistance, and surface properties of the film wherein, the coating composition is irradiation curable and the treated surface contains textures.   
     
     
         59 . The protective sheet of  claim 58 , wherein the surface texture is created by printing. 
     
     
         60 . The protective sheet of  claim 58 , wherein the surface texture is created by embossing. 
     
     
         61 . The protective sheet of  claim 58 , wherein the surface texture is random. 
     
     
         62 . The protective sheet of  claim 58 , wherein the sheet is thermo-formed. 
     
     
         63 . The protective sheet in  claim 58 , wherein the sheet is affixed to an article. 
     
     
         64 . The protective sheet in  claim 58 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the body of an automobile. 
     
     
         65 . The protective sheet in  claim 58 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the body, the screen, or both the body and the screen of a consumer electronic device. 
     
     
         66 . The protective sheet in  claim 58 , wherein the sheet is affixed to an electrical appliance. 
     
     
         67 . The protective sheet in  claim 58 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the body of a ship. 
     
     
         68 . The protective sheet in  claim 58 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the blade of a wind energy generator. 
     
     
         69 . The protective sheet in  claim 58 , wherein the sheet is affixed to the body of an airplane. 
     
     
         70 . A protective laminate including the protective sheet of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         71 . The protective laminate of  claim 70 , wherein the protective sheet is laminated to a release liner coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). 
     
     
         72 . The protective laminate of  claim 70 , wherein the protective sheet is self-wound and has no release liner. 
     
     
         73 . The protective laminate of  claim 70 , wherein the protective sheet is laminated to a substantially adhesive free functional layer for securing the laminate to a surface of an object. 
     
     
         74 . The protective laminate of  claim 70  further comprising a protective layer on the surface treatment region. 
     
     
         75 . The protective laminate of  claim 73 , wherein the substantially adhesive free functional layer acquires adhesive property following heat or radiation activation. 
     
     
         76 . A protective laminate including the protective sheet of  claim 39 . 
     
     
         77 . The protective laminate of  claim 76 , wherein the protective sheet is laminated to a release liner coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). 
     
     
         78 . The protective laminate of  claim 76 , wherein the protective sheet is self-wound and has no release liner. 
     
     
         79 . The protective laminate of  claim 76 , wherein the protective sheet is laminated to a substantially adhesive free functional layer for securing the laminate to a surface of an object. 
     
     
         80 . The protective laminate of  claim 76  further comprising a protective layer on the surface treatment region. 
     
     
         81 . The protective laminate of  claim 79 , wherein the substantially adhesive free functional layer acquires adhesive property following heat or radiation activation. 
     
     
         82 . A protective laminate including the protective sheet of  claim 58 . 
     
     
         83 . The protective laminate of  claim 82 , wherein the protective sheet is laminated to a release liner coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). 
     
     
         84 . The protective laminate of  claim 82 , wherein the protective sheet is self-wound and has no release liner. 
     
     
         85 . The protective laminate of  claim 82 , wherein the protective sheet is laminated to a substantially adhesive free functional layer for securing the laminate to a surface of an object. 
     
     
         86 . The protective laminate of  claim 82  further comprising a protective layer on the surface treatment region. 
     
     
         87 . The protective laminate of  claim 85 , wherein the substantially adhesive free functional layer acquires adhesive property following heat or radiation activation. 
     
     
         88 . A method of using a protective film, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a film with an upper and a lower surface;   providing a treatment composition;   applying the treatment composition on the upper surface of the film; and   applying heat to the treatment composition to cure the composition with at least part of the composition diffuses into the upper surface of the film.