Northern Petrochemical Co.

John A Smart

A method for producing textured thermoplastic film and the textured film produced thereby. A transverse section of a continuous length of preformed thermoplastic film, comprised of two or more components possessing dissimilar softening point temperatures, is heated by a direct contact heating medium. The temperature of the film is thereby raised to or near the softening point of at least one component in the film, yet below the softening point of at least one other component. A partial amount of previously applied orientation is relieved by the softening of at least one component in said film. Correspondingly, a partial amount of the previously applied orientation remains unrelieved due to the presence of at least one unsoftened component in said film. This causes the formation of protuberances in the film which creates a textured look and feel. The resulting textured film, described herein, is suitable for many applications such as decorative coverings, release films, and protective overwrap packaging films.

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Newark, OH, United States of America

John A Smart