DE102021114949A1 - digital printing film - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a stretched polyolefinic film having at least one filled layer and at least one other non-breathable layer. The film has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than 500 g/m2 in 24 hours according to ASTM D6701-01 and includes a print bonded to the film with an adhesive. The adhesive is integrated into the filled layer.

Description

The invention relates to a stretched, polyolefinic film with at least one filled layer and at least one further layer that is non-breathable, the film having a water vapor permeability of less than 500 g/m ² in 24 hours according to ASTM D6701-01 and the film having a print which is connected to the foil via an adhesive.

For example, such films are used for labels. These are placed on many items of commerce to convey information about a manufacturer and a product. Merchandise includes plastic, paper, metal and glass containers for a variety of consumer and industrial products. Labeling requirements in general include high visual aesthetics, abrasion resistance during processing and handling, and resistance to adverse effects from moisture and label removal.

Labels currently used for reusable and recyclable containers include paper labels and stretched, thermally shrinkable, polymeric labels. Paper labels don't have a clear visual aesthetic. Labels that meet label application or label removal requirements are desirable. So that a label can be removed cleanly from the release paper at the high speeds of the labeling machine and applied cleanly, the label film must have a high degree of rigidity in addition to the release force. One often speaks of increased flexural rigidity, which correlates with the modulus of elasticity. In addition, high tensile strength with low elongation is a good indication of sufficient flexural strength.

the WO 2016 178965 A1 describes a label film with high rigidity in MD, which achieves good metering in the application. The stiffness of the coextruded film based on polyolefins is improved by stretching.

Furthermore, such films can also be used as shrink film. The term shrink wrap refers to packaging that bundles two or more objects together by wrapping them with film and then heat shrinking the film to provide a tight fit around the objects. Such films must have sufficient shrinkage and tear resistance to provide a durable package that can be handled without damage.

Shrink films and other packaging films must be sealable during the packaging process. Furthermore, the film is typically printed. Known shrink films made with polyethylene outer layers can be printed by flexographic printing processes using solvent-based inks. However, the flexographic printing methods are not suitable for short-term print changes or for printing a small number of prints to single prints.

However, ink adhesion on standard shrink films with an outer layer based on polyethylene is insufficient, even with conventional measures such as corona treatment. To do this, an adhesion promoter layer often has to be applied to the film.

The films according to the invention can also be used in the packaging of hygiene products. Especially when packaging hygiene products that are produced in particularly large numbers, such as paper handkerchiefs, panty liners, sanitary napkins, tampons preferably with an applicator, or the like, a high processing speed and throughput rate is desirable when packaging the products. For this reason, the packaging systems are usually designed in the form of flow systems, in which the products are surrounded with a packaging bag using a film tube system.
Such film tube systems run at high
Processing speeds and throughput rates, which place high demands on the film, especially in the area of the folded edge. Such a packaging film should have high rigidity and elasticity at the same time in order to meet the requirements of the tubular film systems.

In addition, the films according to the present invention can also be used for disposable hygiene articles, in particular as non-breathable backsheet films. Disposable adult hygiene articles are particularly common as incontinence aids. Conventional disposable hygiene articles of this type have a flat, elongated absorbent body which runs through the wearer's crotch when the disposable hygiene article is put on. The absorbent body is arranged on a polyolefinic and/or textile backsheet. In the case of adult incontinence products, the backsheet is often not breathable, but is printed. It should withstand the mechanical demands of putting on and wearing the incontinence products, which means that the thin backsheet must have high tensile strength.

The examples mentioned all have in common that a polyolefinic film has extremely high mechanical and thermally stable properties should identify. Such a film is often printed for its areas of application to identify the manufacturer and to provide important information.

A frequently used method for printing such a mechanically stable film is flexographic printing. This is a direct letterpress process, also referred to as a web-fed rotary printing process. The flexible printing plates, made of photopolymer or rubber, are used in combination with low-viscosity inks. The raised areas of the printing form carry the image. The advantages lie in the economy through the use of a large printing width and a high printing speed, as well as the availability of inexpensive printing inks. The printing tools, photopolymer printing plates and/or laser engraved elastomer sleeves are readily available. Large runs can be produced economically with flexographic printing. The disadvantages are the costs and the time required for the printing of the motifs, the production and shipping of the motifs and for setting up the tool in the flexographic printing system. As a result, this process is only economical for large print runs. Thus, the variety of variations is limited.

The use of labels, shrink film, packaging bags and adult incontinence products increasingly requires a greater variety of motifs, including the use of personalized motifs. The personalized motifs in particular take up the desire for greater individualization, which has established itself as a cross-industry trend in recent years.

Digital printing is suitable for increasing the diversity of variations while at the same time making small print series economical. The term includes a group of printing processes in which the printed image is transmitted to a printing press as digital data. Laser and inkjet printing are the most common. The great advantage of digital printing is that it does not require a static, unchangeable printing form. Instead, pixel addressing within the print format is generated dynamically for each individual print process, so that each print copy can have a different print image if required.

In digital printing, the printability of a medium depends on its surface properties and the type of ink used. It is crucial for a successful print image that the printing ink forms the best possible connection with the surface of the material to be printed. It often proves advantageous if the paint adheres to the surface in such a way that it is neither pushed off nor completely absorbed.

Most currently available ink-receptive films designed for solvent inkjet printers use solvent-swellable polymers and an absorbent filler to bind the liquid to the film surface during printing. The choice of polymers is based on solubility parameters between polymer and solvent. Typical polymers used in conventional ink receiving layers include vinyl, acrylic, polyacrylate, polyurethane, amorphous polyester, polyether, polyvinyl alcohol.

Polyolefins are significantly cheaper than the previously mentioned swellable polymer materials and usually have better mechanical properties. The average cost of polyethylene and polypropylene is approximately 25% of the cost of polymers such as polyurethane, polyvinyl alcohol, amorphous polyester.

However, the commercially available, predominantly polar printing inks for digital printing adhere poorly to polyolefinic films. Polyolefinic films have a hydrophobic and non-polar surface. When printing polyolefin films, an adhesion promoter usually has to be applied to the film, for example with a printing tool, to which the digital printing ink adheres well. This represents a further processing step, which is associated with corresponding additional costs.

the WO 2017 155676 A1 describes a coextruded film with at least one outer layer which contains CaCO ₃ and forms a microporous outer layer by stretching. This outer layer prints well with a water-based ink.

the WO 2019/206769 A1 describes a process for producing a printed non-woven film laminate in which the printing ink contains an adhesion promoter or an adhesion promoter is applied to the entire surface with a printing unit before printing. The adhesion promoter is, for example, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA).

The above-mentioned application areas of labels, hygiene packaging and shrink films together place high mechanical demands on the polyolefinic films used, which are also to be used as carrier films for digital print motifs in the future in order to meet the increasing number of individuali ization and personalization of print motifs.

The object of the invention is to provide a mechanically and thermally stable film that can be flexibly printed without having to apply an adhesion promoter over the entire surface. Furthermore, the film should be suitable for applying a large number of different print designs. The film should also be particularly liquid-tight when printed and have optimal mechanical properties. Furthermore, the film should be haptically appealing for its application and have the lowest possible specific weight per unit area.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a stretched, polyolefinic film, a method and a use according to the independent main claims. Preferred variants can be found in the dependent claims and the description.

According to the invention, the stretched polyolefinic film has a filled layer in which the adhesive is integrated. As a result, an imprint, preferably a digitally generated printed layer, can be applied directly to the layer. Advantageously, this means that the application of an adhesion promoter layer and thus this additional processing step can be dispensed with.

To produce the film, the compositions according to the invention of the filled layer and at least one further non-breathable layer are coextruded, preferably by means of blow molding. Here the composition of the filled layer already includes the adhesive. Then, in a subsequent stretching process, microporosity is created specifically in the filled layer of the film. The combination of coextrusion with the stretching process and the composition according to the invention forms a hitherto unknown adhesive structure in the filled layer of the film.

The inventive embedding of an adhesive as a structure in the polymer matrix of the filled film layer allows a digital printing unit to be integrated into the film production process. The stretching process is preferably followed by a digital printing unit, which applies the printed image directly to the layer.

The adhesive structure integrated in the layer ensures that the printed image is firmly attached to the foil and at the same time has a high-contrast effect. There are no coalescence phenomena, as is otherwise the case with conventional films according to the prior art with polar printing inks on non-polar film layers.

In an advantageous variant of the invention, the print is designed as a print motif. In the areas of labels, hygiene packaging, adult incontinence hygiene articles and shrink film, the term print motif describes the manufacturer-specific and thematic design part of a print.

In principle, the imprint can also be implemented as a colorless and/or white contrast layer or printing ink that does not cover the entire surface, on which a printed image or printed motif is then applied.

The inkjet printing inks to be used for the overprint are preferably printing inks with a low viscosity and are therefore almost as thin as water. In principle, water-based, UV-curable and solvent-based ink systems are suitable. These printing colors are specially adapted to the respective print heads and are therefore individually adapted to the respective printing machine.

The print motif is preferably printed using a water-based and/or glycol-based composition in which the appropriate pigments are dispersed. Furthermore, the printing ink can also be designed to be solvent-based, for which purpose a slow-drying solvent is most suitable. In addition, the paint can have binders and additives.

In the following, reference is always made to digital printing with regard to printing, including the alternative, previously known printing methods.

The filled layer of the film according to the invention has a particularly advantageous hygroscopicity, which makes it possible to print the film directly without having to apply an additional layer of adhesion promoter.

The stretching process creates the microporosity of the filled layer of the film, which means that special hygroscopic materials that are integrated in the layer to be printed become accessible through the micropores. The inks used in digital printing are mostly pigments dissolved in a polar solvent. After the ink has been applied, the pigments adhere to the filled layer, while the hygroscopic fillers chemically bind at least part of the polar solvent. This ensures an optimal print image, especially for digital printing processes.

According to the invention, the adhesive structure integrated in the filled layer enables a directly adhering imprint on the film without applying an additional adhesive layer.

In a particularly advantageous variant of the invention, the adhesive has an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA). The proportion of EVA in the layer is more than 5% by weight, preferably more than 10% by weight, in particular more than 15% by weight and/or less than 50% by weight, preferably less than 40% by weight %, in particular less than 30% by weight.

Advantageously, the EVA has a vinyl acetate content of more than 10% by weight, preferably more than 15% by weight, in particular more than 20% by weight and/or less than 60% by weight, preferably less than 50% by weight .-%, in particular less than 40 wt .-%. It has been found that the targeted embedding of EVA structures in a stretched polymer matrix forms particularly suitable anchor points for color pigments in digital print layers.

The invention relates to a filled layer of the stretched polyolefinic film. The filled layer preferably has a high proportion of fillers, which serves to produce vacuoles in the stretching process, which is a prerequisite for printability without an additional adhesion promoter layer.

Hard fillers are particularly suitable, inorganic fillers preferably being used in the film according to the invention. The proportion of fillers is calculated in such a way that stretching not only creates microporous pores but also creates connections between the pores.

The filled layer preferably has a proportion of fillers, in particular hard inorganic fillers, of more than 45% by weight, preferably more than 50% by weight, in particular more than 55% by weight. The solids content is preferably less than 75% by weight, in particular less than 70% by weight, preferably less than 65% by weight.

The filler content can be determined using known measuring methods such as incineration. A sample of known weight is heated to a temperature at which the polymer thermally decomposes but the filler does not. For example, 560°C has proven itself for this purpose. The sample weight is then measured again. The polymer content per square meter can be calculated from the difference between the initial weight and the initial weight.

As an alternative to ashing, a TGA measurement is possible, in which the weight of a sample is continuously measured as it is heated. This test method can also clearly differentiate between polymer and filler and allows the polymer content of the film to be determined.

In a variant of the invention, calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) is used as the filler, preferably with an average particle size of 0.8 to 2 μm. During the stretching process, the elastic polymer parts of the filled layer are stretched and pores form at the edge of the chalk grains towards the polymer matrix. In one variant of the invention, the proportion of calcium carbonate is more than 45% by weight, preferably more than 50% by weight, in particular more than 55% by weight and/or less than 75% by weight, preferably less than 70% % by weight, in particular less than 65% by weight.

A metal oxide component can be used as a filler in addition to or as an alternative to calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ).

In a variant of the invention, metal oxide components are integrated into the polymer matrix of the filled layer in such a way that they act both as a filler to create the microporosity and as an adhesive for the print. This dual function is achieved by the inventive introduction of the metal oxide component into the composition of the masterbatch, the specially designed blow molding and the precisely adjusted stretching. In this way, both the excellent microporosity and the structure of the adhesive for adhering the print motif in the filled layer can be produced at the same time.

The alkaline earth metal oxides are particularly advantageous as metal oxide components, in order to ensure the formation of the pores in the layer both as a filler and at the same time as an adhesive to ensure the adhesion of the printed image. Calcium oxide (CaO) has proven particularly advantageous, although the use of magnesium oxide is also conceivable.

Thus, there are variants of the invention which almost exclusively contain calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) as a filler, other variants which almost exclusively contain calcium oxide (CaO) as a filler and variants in which both substances are used in different ratios.

In one variant of the invention, the proportion of calcium oxide (CaO) in the filled layer is more than 20% by weight, preferably more than 30% by weight, in particular more than 40% by weight and/or less than 80% by weight. -%, preferably less than 70% by weight, in particular less than 60% by weight.

In a particularly advantageous variant of the invention, CaO components are used, which act both as a filler and as an adhesive, which is integrated as a structure in the layer to be printed in order to enable optimal direct printing on the film.

These are preferably highly hygroscopic components that are suitable for binding part of the solvent in the printing ink that reaches the CaO particles via the microporous pores. Surprisingly, it was found that these components cause the solvent to set particularly well. As a result, the printing ink adheres well to the layer and thus supports a high production speed. On the other hand, these CaO components form an adhesive structure integrated into the polymer matrix. As a result, polar printing inks adhere better to the film and are particularly resistant to abrasion.

CaO components with an average particle size of less than 8 μm, preferably less than 5 μm, in particular less than 3 μm, are preferably used.

In an advantageous variant of the film according to the invention, mixtures are used which contain both calcium carbonate components and calcium oxide components.

For the use of the film according to the invention as a carrier layer for digital print motifs, abrasion-resistant adhesion of the printing ink is essential. Abraded paint particles are undesirable in every application and would permanently damage the image of the distributor. The abrasion resistance of the print layer on the foil can be evaluated using different test methods.

The Sutherland Rub Test is an ASTM F 2497 test method in which a bond paper abrasive is loaded with a mass of four pounds and rubbed over the printed film for ten cycles. The printed layer is classified as good, fair or bad.

In the tests, the digitally printed film according to the invention shows good color stability and outstanding abrasion resistance. Thus, the film according to the invention can be used as a carrier layer for digital print motifs without color loss occurring in the intended use by customers.

In addition, the polyolefinic, stretched film according to the invention has a high mechanical and thermal stability, which is not previously known from digitally printable, polyolefinic films.

According to the invention, the film has a tensile strength in the machine direction of at least 3 N at 5% elongation and/or transversely to the machine direction of at least 3 N at 5% elongation according to DIN EN ISO 527-3.

The film advantageously has a modulus of elasticity according to DIN EN ISO 527-3 in the machine direction and/or transversely to the machine direction of at least 1000 MPa.

This combination of features according to the invention provides a polyolefinic, stretched film that can be directly digitally printed without the application of an adhesion promoter and meets all the requirements for use in the production of labels, hygiene packaging, adult incontinence hygiene articles and shrink films. The film according to the invention is characterized by enormous rigidity combined with elasticity.

The film of the present invention is a coextruded film in which the filled layer is coextruded with an unfilled layer that is not breathable. The enormous rigidity with simultaneous elasticity is largely achieved through the properties of the unfilled layer.

The folding edges of the films for hygiene packaging, which are used in tubular film systems, require particularly high strength in and across the machine direction in order to remain undamaged during the folding process. Ideally, the film has a tensile strength in and/or transverse to the machine direction according to DIN EN ISO 527-3 of more than 5 N/cm ² , preferably more than 10 N/cm ² , in particular more than 15 N/cm ² at 5% elongation on.

Labels, for example, require increased rigidity for the application so that the label can be detached cleanly from the release paper at high speeds and applied cleanly. One often speaks of the increase in flexural rigidity, which can be determined using the modulus of elasticity. A high tensile strength with low elongation proves to be a good indication of a high flexural rigidity.

The film according to the invention advantageously has a modulus of elasticity according to DIN EN ISO 527-3 in the machine direction and/or transverse to the machine direction of more than 1050 MPa, preferably more than 1100 MPa, in particular more than 1150 MPa.

The film according to the invention also shows impermeability to water vapor with the direct, digital imprint on the microporous layer.

This is largely achieved by the unfilled, non-breathable layer. The water vapor permeability is defined according to ASTM D6701-01 and is less than 500 g/m ² in 24 hours.

This is achieved by the further, non-breathable layer of the film according to the invention, which is designed to be almost liquid-tight and impermeable to water vapor. The film has a water vapor permeability according to ASTM D6701-01 of less than 50 g/m ² , preferably less than 35 g/m ² , in particular less than 20 g/m ² in 24 hours.

At the same time, the film has a high level of impermeability, so that liquid is reliably prevented from escaping or entering. The film according to the invention has a water column of more than 300 mm, preferably more than 400 mm, in particular more than 500 mm. The method of measuring the water column is in accordance with EDANA WSP 80.6. The pressure increase is 10 mbar per minute. Distilled water is used as the test liquid. The test area is 100 cm ² without a supporting screen.

As a result, the film according to the invention is very advantageously suitable for use in hygiene packaging and as a backsheet film for adult incontinence products. The wrapped hygiene articles are thus particularly protected against contact with liquids by the film. When used as a backsheet, the film also reliably prevents the undesired escape of liquid from incontinence products.

The film according to the invention has the extremely favorable properties with a very small thickness. The thickness of the filled layer is less than 20 μm, preferably less than 15 μm, in particular less than 10 μm and/or more than 0.5 μm, preferably more than 1.5 μm, in particular more than 2.5 μm.

The thickness of the further layer is advantageously less than 200 μm, preferably less than 150 μm, in particular less than 100 μm and/or more than 5 μm, in particular more than 8 μm, preferably more than 14 μm.

According to the invention, the polyolefinic, stretched film is produced in a process in which the compositions of the filled layer are first set with a non-breathable layer in so-called masterbatches. These compositions are then coextruded into a film by blow extrusion. In principle, cast extrusion is also conceivable for this purpose. The film is then preferably stretched in the machine direction and/or in the cross-machine direction. Within this complex inline process according to the invention, the imprint is applied by means of digital printing processes or inkjet processes.

In a variant of the invention, the properties of the film are realized through the targeted use of blow molding. At the same time, cast extrusion is also conceivable. The blow extrusion before the stretching makes it possible to create the film properties according to the invention on the basis of the specific composition.

To create the microporosity in the filled layer, the film web is subjected to a stretching process. At least stretching in the machine direction (MD) preferably takes place here. In addition, stretching in the transverse direction (CD) can also take place. In principle, ring rolling would also be possible.

According to the invention, the film is preferably stretched by more than 200%, preferably in particular more than 280%, preferably more than 300%, in particular more than 320%. The stretching of the film after blow extrusion in the machine direction is, for example, less than 500%, preferably less than 465% and in particular less than 450%. A temperature of more than 70° C., preferably more than 80° C., in particular more than 90° C., is preferably used during the stretching. The temperature during stretching in the machine direction is preferably less than 120.degree. C., preferably less than 110.degree. C., in particular less than 100.degree.

In advantageous variants of the invention, the films according to the invention have significantly better mechanical properties than conventional, directly printable films. These properties are preferably ensured despite a low polymer content.

With the film according to the invention, it has been possible for the first time to produce an extremely thin, filled layer with a low basis weight which, with a low use of polymer, is optimally suited for the production of labels, hygiene packaging, adult incontinence hygiene articles and shrink films and can also be used with modern digital printing machines at very can be optimally printed at high production speeds.

This hitherto unknown direct printability of a polyolefinic film is achieved through a specific composition of the film, in particular the filled and unfilled layer, a targeted selection of polymers in combination with a specific manufacturing process.

The polymer content of the filled layer is relatively low despite these astonishingly stable properties of the film. The film preferably has a proportion of polymeric components of less than 60% by weight, preferably less than 50% by weight, in particular less than 45% by weight. on. However, in order to ensure sufficient stability, the proportion of polymer is more than 25% by weight, preferably more than 30% by weight, in particular more than 35% by weight.

In a particularly advantageous variant of the film according to the invention, the proportion of polyolefins in the polymer is more than 60% by weight, preferably more than 70% by weight, in particular more than 80% by weight.

According to the invention, the film is preferably used for the production of labels, hygiene packaging, adult incontinence hygiene articles and shrink film for the application of digital print motifs.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• WO 2016178965 A1 [0004]
• WO 2017155676 A1 [0018]
• WO 2019206769 A1 [0019]

Claims (16)

Stretched polyolefinic film - having at least one filled layer and - at least one further layer which is non-breathable, - the film having a water vapor transmission rate of less than 500 g/m ² in 24 hours according to ASTM D6701-01 - and the film comprising a print , which is connected to the film via an adhesive, characterized in that the adhesive is integrated into the filled layer. slide after claim 1 , characterized in that the film has a tensile strength in the machine direction of at least 3 N at 5% elongation according to DIN EN ISO 527-3. slide after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the film has a tensile strength transversely to the machine direction of at least 3 N at 5% elongation according to DIN EN ISO 527-3. Slide after one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the imprint is arranged directly on the filled layer. Slide after one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the imprint is based on a water-based and/or a glycol-based composition. Slide after one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the film has a water vapor permeability according to ASTM D6701-01 of less than 50 g/m ² , preferably less than 35 g/m ² , in particular less than 20 g/m ² in 24 h. Slide after one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the further layer is unfilled. Slide after one of the Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that the film has a modulus of elasticity in the machine direction and/or a modulus of elasticity transversely to the machine direction of at least 1000 MPa according to DIN EN ISO 527-3. Slide after one of the Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that the filled layer has a thickness of less than 20 µm, preferably less than 15 µm, in particular less than 10 µm and/or more than 0.5 µm, preferably more than 1.5 µm, in particular more than 2 5 µm. Slide after one of the Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the further layer has a thickness of less than 200 µm, preferably less than 150 µm, in particular less than 100 µm and/or more than 5 µm, in particular more than 8 µm, preferably more than 14 µm. Slide after one of the Claims 1 until 10 , characterized in that the adhesive comprises an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), the proportion of EVA in the layer being more than 5% by weight, preferably more than 10% by weight, in particular more than 15% by weight. % and/or less than 50% by weight, preferably less than 40% by weight, in particular less than 30% by weight. slide after claim 11 , characterized in that the EVA has a proportion of vinyl acetate of more than 10% by weight, preferably more than 15% by weight, in particular more than 20% by weight and/or less than 60% by weight, preferably less than 50% by weight, in particular less than 40% by weight. Slide after one of the Claims 1 until 12 , characterized in that the adhesive has a metal oxide component, in particular an alkaline earth oxide component, the proportion of the alkaline earth oxide component in the filled layer being more than 20% by weight, preferably more than 30% by weight, in particular more than 40% by weight and/or less than 80% by weight, preferably less than 70% by weight, in particular less than 60% by weight. Slide after one of the Claims 1 until 13 , characterized in that the adhesive contains calcium oxide (CaO), the proportion of calcium oxide (CaO) in the filled layer being more than 20% by weight, preferably more than 30% by weight, in particular more than 40% by weight and/or less than 80% by weight, preferably less than 70% by weight, in particular less than 60% by weight. Process for producing a digital printing film with the following steps, - coextrusion of a layer filled with a non-breathable film to form a film web, - stretching the film web, - applying pressure to the filled layer, characterized in that the pressure is applied directly to the filled layer. Use of a film according to one of Claims 1 until 14 as a motif carrier for digital prints, preferably for labels, shrink films, hygiene article packaging, non-breathable backsheets, application films for sanitary napkins, adult incontinence products and adhesive tapes.