A composite sheet material includes a cover sheet, a substrate and an adhesion promoting layer. The cover sheet has a cover sheet material. The substrate has a substrate material. The adhesion promoting layer is disposed between the cover sheet and the substrate. A first side of the adhesion promoting layer disposed towards the cover sheet has an affinity to bond with the cover sheet material. A second side of the adhesion promoting layer disposed towards the substrate has an affinity to bond with the substrate material.

A radiation-curable laminating adhesive is provided which contains a) at least one urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer and b) at least one additional (meth)acrylate-functionalized component selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid-functionalized ester-containing (meth)acrylate monomers and polybutadiene poly(meth)acrylates. The adhesive may also contain other components such as (meth)acrylic polyol (meth)acrylates. Flexible packaging laminates may be obtained by using the aforedescribed adhesive to adhere thin polymeric and/or metallic films together, the adhesive being exposed to an amount of radiation effective to cure the adhesive.

Provided are methods for coating plastic substrates with an aqueous coating composition comprising at least one organic polymer as binder, the coating composition being applied to the surface of the plastic substrate and being subsequently cured, wherein the plastic substrate is pretreated before the coating composition is applied, the pretreatment comprising the two following separate steps in the order stated: (A) heat-treating a plastic substrate at an ambient temperature in the range from 60 C. to 160 C. for a period in the range from 1 minute to 20 minutes, (B) flaming the surface of the plastic substrate pretreated as per step (A), there being a period of up to 90 minutes between the ending of step (A) and the beginning of step (B). Additionally, provided are coated plastic substrates that have been coated by the methods of the invention.

A film for a backlight unit including a semiconductor nanocrystal-polymer composite film including a semiconductor nanocrystal and a matrix polymer in which the semiconductor nanocrystal is dispersed, wherein the matrix polymer is a polymer produced by a polymerization of a multifunctional photo-curable oligomer, a mono-functional photo-curable monomer, and a multifunctional photo-curable cross-linking agent, the multifunctional photo-curable oligomer has an acid value of less than or equal to about 0.1 mg of KOH/g, and a content (A.sub.1) of a first structural unit derived from the multifunctional photo-curable oligomer, a content (A.sub.2) of a second structural unit derived from the mono-functional photo-curable monomer, and a content (A.sub.3) of a third structural unit derived from the multifunctional photo-curable cross-linking agent satisfy Equation 1:

A.sub.1<(A.sub.2+A.sub.3).Equation 1

A robust, two component adhesive for laminating flexible packaging material comprising a mixture of Component A and Component B. Component A comprises an isocyanate-functionalized compound. Component B comprises a mixture of a high functionality polyol containing at least four hydroxyl groups per molecule with at least two primary OH groups on the molecule and two secondary OH groups on the molecule and a trifunctional polyol containing three OH groups on the molecule. Component B can contain a difunctional polyol containing two OH groups on the molecule. The adhesive is robust and retains desirable properties when used at varying A:B mix ratios better than conventional laminating adhesives used at the same mix ratios.

Methods for improving one or more surface properties of a sheet of paper or paperboard, which method comprises (a) coating at least one side of the sheet of paper or paperboard with a dispersion having a cationic zeta potential formed by combining (1) a mixture containing one or more anionic pigments with (2) one or more polyamine-epihalohydrin cationic wet strength resins at a coating weight of from about 0.1 g/m.sup.2 to about 20 g/m.sup.2; (b) drying the coated sheet of paper or paperboard; (c) applying a functional barrier top coating that resists one or more of the following: liquid water, water vapor, gas permeability, oil and grease, slip, and static or an anionic latex based pigment coating that imparts improved opacity, brightness, or printability. The invention also includes the dispersions as well as paper or paperboard coated with the dispersion.

A coated polymer foil is described and can be produced via coating of a polymer foil with an aqueous composition comprising (A) a polymer which is obtained via free-radical polymerization and which is composed of from 10 to 80% by weight of a compound selected from ethylenically unsaturated anhydrides and ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, the carboxylic acid groups of which can form an anhydride group, and (B) an alkanolamine having at least two hydroxy groups. The coating gives the polymer foil an oxygen barrier and can in particular be used for producing packaging.

A compressible substrate coated at least in part with a waterborne coating composition comprising at least one base neutralized active hydrogen containing film-forming resin and a water dispersible carbodiimide crosslinker capable of reacting with the film-forming resin to form a crosslinked film is disclosed. An article of manufacture having at least two different flexible substrates coated at least in part with such a coating is also disclosed.

A composite sheet material includes a cover sheet, a substrate and an adhesion promoting layer. The cover sheet has a cover sheet material. The substrate has a substrate material. The adhesion promoting layer is disposed between the cover sheet and the substrate. A first side of the adhesion promoting layer disposed towards the cover sheet has an affinity to bond with the cover sheet material. A second side of the adhesion promoting layer disposed towards the substrate has an affinity to bond with the substrate material.