Pressure-sensitive label

Abstract

A pressure sensitive label and method for preparing same, the pressure sensitive label comprising: (a) a support portion, said support portion including at least a carrier layer; and (b) a transfer portion over said support portion for transfer of the transfer portion from the support portion to an article upon application of pressure to the transfer portion while the transfer portion is in contact with the article, said transfer portion including at least (1) a first printable layer in confronting relationship with the carrier layer, (2) an ink layer, and (3) a second printable layer, wherein the ink layer is disposed between the first printable layer and the second printable layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pressure sensitive label comprising:
 (a) a support portion, said support portion including at least a carrier layer; and   (b) a transfer portion over said support portion for transfer of the transfer portion from the support portion to an article upon application of pressure to the transfer portion while the transfer portion is in contact with the article, said transfer portion including at least
 (1) a first printable layer in confronting relationship with the carrier layer, 
 (2) an ink layer, and 
 (3) a second printable layer, 
 wherein the ink layer is disposed between the first printable layer and the second printable layer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer positioned such that said second printable layer is between said ink layer and said adhesive layer. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 1 , further comprising a silicone coating positioned on a surface of the carrier layer such that said silicone coating is between said carrier layer and said adhesive layer. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer has a surface tension that allows the first printable layer to releasably bond thereto. 
     
     
         5 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 4 , wherein the surface of the carrier layer that contacts the ink layer has a dyne level below about 32. 
     
     
         6 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer includes a material chosen from polypropylene and polyester. 
     
     
         7 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer is chosen from virgin polypropylene film, silicone coated paper liner, silicone coated polyester film, polyester film, and biaxially oriented polypropylene film. 
     
     
         8 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier layer is chosen from plastic film, foil, parchment, and paper. 
     
     
         9 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 1 , further comprising a release layer positioned such that said carrier layer is between said first printable layer and said release layer. 
     
     
         10 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first printable layer and the second printable layer is solvent-based, water-based, or ultraviolet curable. 
     
     
         11 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 1 , wherein the first printable layer or the second printable layer, independently, is a non-ink varnish that includes about 30 wt % to about 50 wt % of a triacrylate ester monomer, about 10 wt % to about 12.5 wt % of a diacrylate ester monomer, about 10 wt % to about 12.5 wt % of an aromatic urethane acrylate, about 10 wt % to about 12.5 wt % of a difunctional acrylate, about 5 wt % to about 7 wt % of an acrylate oligomer, about 3 wt % to about 5 wt % of triethanolamine, and about 1 wt % to about 2 wt % of 4-phenylbenzophenone. 
     
     
         12 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 1 , wherein the ink layer comprises about 25 wt % to about 35 wt % ethanol, about 20 wt % to about 25 wt % propylene glycol methyl ether, about 15 wt % to about 20 wt % propyl acetate, about 15 wt % to about 20 wt % isopropanol, and about 3 wt % to about 5 wt % aluminum flake. 
     
     
         13 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises about 37.5 wt % to about 80 wt % acrylate, and about 2.5 wt % to about 10 wt % of a photoinitiator. 
     
     
         14 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 9 , wherein the release layer comprises dimethyl siloxane and silicone. 
     
     
         15 . The pressure sensitive label of  claim 1 , wherein said label does not include any release layer between said carrier layer and said first printable layer.