Linerless label and method for preparing a label

Abstract

The present application relates to a linerless self-adhesive label, method for labelling an item, and to a labelled item.

1 . A printed linerless face laminate comprising the following layers in the following order:
 a release layer comprising a release agent,   a second layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer,   a second adhesive layer,   a first layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and   a first adhesive layer comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive,   
       wherein the print is on one or more printable surface(s) between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the total thickness of the face laminate is in the range of 20-100 μm. 
     
     
         2 . The printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the total thickness of the face laminate is in the range of 20-80 μm. 
     
     
         3 . The printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer has a thickness in the range of 10-50 prn and the second layer has a thickness in the range of 10-30 μm. 
     
     
         4 . The printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a polymer selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, cyclic olefin (co)polymer and copolymer and derivatives thereof and the second layer comprises a polymer selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, cyclic olefin (co)polymer and copolymer and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The printed face laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate and the second layer comprises polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         6 . The printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the second adhesive layer comprises an adhesive selected from a UV curable adhesive, a polyurethane adhesive, and an adhesive activatable by heat or water addition. 
     
     
         7 . The printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1 , wherein adhesion of the second adhesive does not substantially decrease at washing conditions comprising a temperature of 65-75° C. and exposure to an aqueous alkaline solution, so that the first layer and the second layer attached with the second adhesive will not be separated during washing. 
     
     
         8 . The printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is an acrylic based adhesive exhibiting reduction in its adhesion force at 65° C. 
     
     
         9 . The printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer comprises a non-annealed monoaxially oriented film. 
     
     
         10 . The printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer and/or the second layer comprises a machine direction oriented film. 
     
     
         11 . The printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises a second shrinkable monoaxially oriented film, and the first layer comprises a first shrinkable monoaxially oriented film, which is oriented in different direction to the second shrinkable monoaxially oriented film. 
     
     
         12 . The printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer and/or the second layer comprises a biaxially oriented film. 
     
     
         13 . The printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1 , having a total average density of less than 1.0 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         14 . The printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1 , having a total average density of at least 1.0 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         15 . The printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1  in a form of a printed linerless continuous label web having a plurality of individual labels attached to each other by a bridge between the individual labels, wherein the bridge is weakened by perforating, thinning, kiss cutting or partial cutting, or wherein the bridge has a width that is smaller than a largest width of an individual label along the length of the continuous label web 
     
     
         16 . A labelled item having the printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1  attached to a surface of the item. 
     
     
         17 . The labelled item of  claim 15 , wherein the item is a plastic container exhibiting heat shrinkage during wash at 65° C. 
     
     
         18 . The labelled item of  claim 17 , wherein the plastic container is a PET bottle. 
     
     
         19 . A method for labelling an item, the method comprising
 providing the printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1  in an automatic label dispensing machine,   providing an item to be labelled, and   labelling the item with the printed face laminate with the automatic label dispensing machine.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising
 providing the printed linerless face laminate of  claim 1  in a form of a printed linerless continuous label web having a plurality of individual labels attached to each other by a bridge between the individual labels,   separating the individual labels from the printed linerless continuous label web in the automatic label dispensing machine by cutting or tearing said bridge to obtain separate labels, and   labelling the item with a separate label.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the item to be labelled is a plastic container exhibiting heat shrinkage during wash at 65° C. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plastic container is a PET bottle.