Coatings for plastic films have become indispensable in the card and security printing industry. They are required for the following applications:
as composite assistance in printed areas
as a support layer for various personalisation methods such as thermal sublimation printing and thermal transfer printing
as an adhesion layer (undercoat, primer) for digital printing with liquid toner
as the protective layer to increase the scratch resistance
as a compensation layer in order to protect embedded RFID elements in the hot-cold-laminating cycle and to prevent flow marks (one-shot lamination)
Materials technology has made great progress in recent years particularly in adhesives. An important progression is the increase of resistance to hydrolysis which leads to a prolonged ageing resistance of the cards. In multi-layer card structure the use of these adhesives as a composite aid leads to an improved dynamic bending stress.
Most flat films are produced on an extrusion system with a flat die and a roll calender. In a single layer monofoil only a plasticising unit (main extruder) is required. In multilayer films with different materials a side extruder (co-extruder) is also required. After melting in the extruders the various melt flows are led inseparably over each other in the feedblock or multilayer die (see illustration) while still fluid.
Illustration source: with the term "Multilayer+Manifold+Dies" via Google. Latest accessed 19 January 2016.
A good knowledge of materials is required for the production of co-extruded films, also knowledge and experience in processing and application. The best results can only be achieved when the plastic layers are optimally used in a co-extruded multilayer film.
Typical applications for co-extrusion
Incorporating a thin layer in a card body structure which can be personalised by laser. Here a co-extruded film is required for the processing.
Dyed middle layer as a security element for an identification application.
Coloured core film with opaque white topcoat for bank cards.
To combine the advantages of different polymers, PETG and polycarbonate can be co-extruded to PEC for example
Plastics or polymers are macromolecular, organic compounds that are formed from basic substances (monomers). The macromolecules form either linear or branched chains (thermoplastics) but can also be cross-linked (thermosets or elastomers).
In the card industry, mostly thermoplastics are processed, meaning non-crosslinked plastics which either soften upon heating (at the glass transition temperature of amorphous thermoplastics) or melt (in the case of semi-crystalline thermoplastics). Thermoplastics are fused (laminated) to form a composite and solidify again (crystallize) during the cooling phase.
Properties of amorphous thermoplastics
Molecule chains are disorderly entangled in one another
Not mechanically durable after the glass transition point
Good optical properties such as high transparency
Good for printing and laminating
Brittle
Moderate temperature and chemical resistance
Properties of semi-crystalline thermoplastics
Form a crystalline structure in some areas
Translucent or opaque because the crystalline areas scatter light
Resistant
Mechanically durable even above the glass transition temperature
Good temperature and chemical resistance.
When processing in the card industry, additional measures are needed for the printability (primer) and the composite adhesion (adhesives).
Advantages of co-polymerisation
Various monomers connect in co-polymerisation. Through the co-polymerisation of plastics polymer materials can be prepared with tailored properties such as the high-performance material Tritan™ which outperforms other thermoplastics in almost all material properties.
Benefits for card manufacturers
Lützelschwab Consulting AG cooperates with producers of raw materials and has wide material technical knowledge and many years of experience. Card manufacturers can benefit from this. As we offer tailor-made and future-oriented solutions for applications in the card market which meet the highest of standards.
Lützelschwab Consulting AG
Wylerringstrasse 29A
CH – 3014 Bern, Switzerland
welcome@smart-ecofilms.com
Landline: +41 33 841 24 24