FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970)
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE
FILM WITH OUTER LAYER COMPOSED OF A POLY AMIDE COMPOSITION
APPLICANT
DEGUSSA AG
Bennigsenplatz 1
40474 Dusseldorf
Germany
Nationality: a German company
The following specification particularly describes
the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

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Film with outer layer composed of a polyamide composition
The present invention relates to a film which comprises a layer composed of a polyamide and which is suitable for the decoration of mouldings.
Moulding compositions from the class of the polyamides have advantageous properties for production of a very wide variety of consumer articles. The combination of these properties with the feature of transparency is of particular interest, and opens up the possibility of production of transparent films which can be used for the finishing or decoration of surfaces. Materials that can be used here are especially polyamides having relatively long-chain aliphatic monomer components, since they have particular impact resistance, even at low temperatures, good chemicals resistance and adequately good scratch resistance and adequate gloss. Examples here are PA12, PA11, PA1010, PA1012 or their blends.
These properties are relevant by way of example for applications as material for outer layers in the ski and snowboard sector. Examples are found in the article by M. Beyer and J. Lohmar, Kunststoffe 90 (2000) 1, pp. 98-101, where printable films composed of PA 12 moulding compositions are presented.
The utility model DE 295 19 867 Ul provides another example. It describes a decorable film composed of a copolyamide which is composed of laurolactam and caprolactam and/or hexamethylenediamine/dicarboxylic acid as monomer units. Although these copolyamides are generally transparent and can also be decorated to good effect, when mouldings or films are produced from these copolyamides via extrusion there are always problems. In particular - as with the systems mentioned above - deposits form on the injection mould or extrusion tooling or on the take-off rolls, and these often cause interruption of production because cleaning operations are needed. Furthermore, these films have insufficient heat resistance, and there is therefore a risk of deformation during decoration by means of sublimation print or by means of thermal diffusion print. Decoration therefore has to be carried out at temperatures lower than would actually be desirable in these processes.
A factor of general importance for selection of material for the application sector mentioned, alongside a low level of deposit formation and good heat resistance, is that a certain degree of

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crystallinity is present simultaneously with and in addition to transparency. This is important for the resistance of the material to chemicals, an example of the way in which this is apparent here being via satisfactory stress cracking resistance when the material is printed (printing ink) or comes into contact with cleaning compositions.
However, achievement of increase in scratch resistance and gloss would be a desirable improvement over the prior art cited above.
Polyamides can also be used as outer layers of paint replacement films in the vehicle sector. The standard current process for the decoration of external areas on automobiles is painting. However, this procedure firstly generates high manufacturing costs, resulting from provision of specific machinery and from the attendant operating cost for the automobile manufacturer, and secondly pollutes the environment. Environmental pollution results, for example, from solvent residues released from the paints used, and from colorant residues arising, for which correct disposal methods have to be used. Another factor here is that the painting process has only limited suitability for decorating the surface of plastics components which in recent years have become increasingly popular in automobile construction because they save weight and cost.
The process of painting plastics components which are components of bodywork can, for example, be carried out on-line, the plastics part being subjected to a paint treatment identical with that for the metallic components. This leads to a uniform colour, but is attended by high temperatures resulting from the cathodic electrodeposition method conventional here, and this makes the selection of material more difficult. In addition, identical adhesion of the paint formulation has to be ensured on very different substrates. If the process of painting the plastics parts is carried out in a separate step (known as off-line painting), comprising process conditions more advantageous for plastics, the problem of colourmatching arises, meaning that the shade achieved on the metal has to be matched precisely. However, the differences in substrate and in the underlying paint formulation that can be used, and process conditions, make this very difficult to achieve. If there is a colour difference prescribed via the design, a serious disadvantage that remains is provision of a second set of painting equipment for the plastics parts and the cost associated therewith, and additional time required for manufacture of the automobile also has to be considered. Direct use of the untreated, generally injection-

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moulded plastics parts is aesthetically disadvantageous, because surface defects resulting from the process, such as weld lines, air inclusions, and also necessary reinforcing fillers, such as glass fibres, are clearly discernible here. This is intolerable in visible regions. Consequently, improvement of surface quality has to be undertaken, for example in the context of a painting process, frequently requiring much work for pretreatment via polishing and application of relatively thick layers of a primer.
One proposed solution consists in the use of multilayered plastics films, used to cover the components and then requiring no painting. The bond between substrate and decorating film here can be achieved via a number of manufacturing processes. By way of example, the film can be laminated to the substrate, or it is possible to select a process of reverse coating by an injection-moulding process, in which the film is placed in the injection mould during component production. The concept of a film as carrier of decoration is also in line with a trend toward individualization of design elements on automobiles. Specifically, this trend leads to a wider range of models in the manufacturing process, but with a reduction in the number of respective components manufactured per series. The use of films permits rapid, problem-free design change, and can therefore meet this challenge. An important factor here is that the film complies with the standards demanded in the automobile industry with respect to surface properties (class A surface), solvent resistance, and appearance. These films likewise have good capability for use in the design of interior surfaces in automobiles.
Decorative films of this type are in principle known. EP 0 949 120 A1 describes by way of example decorative films with a transparent outer layer composed of polyurethane, poly aery late, fluoropolymer, or mixtures composed of fluoropolymer and poly aery late. WO 94/03337 and EP 0 285 071 A2 disclose similar decorative films.
Because of their property profile, for example impact resistance and chemicals resistance, polyamides, in particular polyamides based on PA12 or PAH, very generally have good suitability for the production of decorative films of this type. Accordingly, the patent literature contains descriptions of decorative films or else protective films which comprise an outer layer composed of a polyamide. JP60155239A, JP2003118055A, EP 1 302 309 A, EP 0 522 240 A, EP 0 694 377 A, EP 0 734 833 A, WO9212008 A and EP 0 568 988 A may be mentioned here by way of example.

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Whereas outer layers composed of polyamides with high carboxamide group density have insufficient chemicals resistance and excessive water absorption, due to high polarity, it has been found in practice that when polyamides having low carboxamide group density, prepared from lactams and, respectively, from the corresponding aminocarboxylic acids (AB polyamides), are used the result is that under ambient conditions over the course of time deposits form on the surface of the films and considerably reduce gloss and are unacceptable for this application. Polyamides of this type, e.g. PAH or PA12, moreover have inadequate scratch resistance. Their gloss is also unsatisfactory.
The object was therefore to provide a single-layer or multilayer film which serves for decorative purposes and one layer or the uppermost layer (both hereinafter termed outer layer) of which is composed of a polyamide composition which has good chemicals resistance and stress cracking resistance and improved scratch resistance, has no tendency toward formation of deposits, and has improved gloss, thus meeting the increased level of aesthetic demands placed upon the surface, even after prolonged use. The outer layer here has to have sufficient transparency to permit reverse printing with adequate character sharpness.
This object has been achieved via a single- or multilayer decorative film whose outer layer is composed of a polyamide composition which comprises the following components:
a) from 50 to 100 parts by weight, preferably from 60 to 98 parts by weight, particularly
preferably from 70 to 95 parts by weight and with particular preference from 75 to 90
parts by weight, of polyamide which can be prepared from the following monomers:
a) from 70 to 100 mol%, preferably from 75 to 99 mol%, particularly preferably
from 80 to 98 mol% and with particular preference from 85 to 97 mol%, of
m-xylylenediamine and/or p-xylylenediamine and P) from 0 to 30 mol%, preferably from 1 to 25 mol%, particularly preferably from
2 to 20 mol% and with particular preference from 3 to 15mol%, of other
diamines having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms,
where the mol% data here are based on the entirety of diamine, and
y) from 70 to 100 mol%, preferably from 75 to 90 mol%, particularly preferably
from 80 to 98 mol% and with particular preference from 85 to 97 mol%, of
aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and
8) from 0 to 30 mol%, preferably from 1 to 25 mol%, particularly preferably from
2 to 20 mol% and with particular preference from 3 to 15 mol%, of other
dicarboxylic acids having from 6 to 9 carbon atoms, where the mol% data here are based on the entirety of dicarboxylic acid;
b) from 0 to 50 parts by weight, preferably from 2 to 40 parts by weight, particularly

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preferably from 5 to 30 parts by weight and with particular preference from 10 to 25 parts by weight, of another polyamide, preferably a polyamide with an average of at least 8 carbon atoms in the monomer units, where the parts by weight of a) and b) give a total of 100.
The polyamide composition can moreover comprise at most 20% by weight, at most 16% by weight, at most 12% by weight, at most 8% by weight, or at most 4% by weight, of auxiliaries or additives, the % by weight data here being based on the entire polyamide composition.
The other diamine used concomitantly, if appropriate, under a) p) can by way of example be
1,6-hexamethylenediamine, 1,8-octamethylenediamine, 1,9-nonamethylenediamine,
1,10-decamethylenediamine, 1,12-dodecamethylenediamine,
1,14-tetradecamethylenediamine, 1,4-cyclohexanediamine, 1,3- or
l,4-bis(aminomethyl)hexane, 4,4'-diaminodicyclohexylmethane and/or isophoronediamine.
The dicarboxylic acid of component a) y) is preferably linear. Examples of suitable compounds are 1,10-decanedioic acid, 1,11-undecanedioic acid, 1,12-dodecanedioic acid, 1,13 -tridecanedioic acid, 1,14-tetradecanedioic acid, 1,16-hexadecanedioic acid and 1,18-octadecanedioic acid, preference being given here to 1,12-dodecanedioic acid and 1,14-tetradecanedioic acid. Mixtures can also be used.
An example of the other dicarboxylic acid used concomitantly, if appropriate, under a) 5) is adipic acid, suberic acid, 1,9-nonanedioic acid, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, isophthalic acid and/or terephthalic acid.
In one preferred embodiment, the polyamide comprises under a) essentially no monomer units which derive from a component a) (3).
In another preferred embodiment, the polyamide comprises under a) essentially no monomer units which derive from a component a) 5).
A further preference is that the monomer units which derive from component a) y) derive from a single dicarboxylic acid, since although mixtures of dicarboxylic acids give higher transparency of the polyamide, the result is reductions in chemicals resistance.
In one possible embodiment of the invention, component a) a) is composed of
• at least respectively 50% by weight, 60% by weight, 70% by weight, 75% by weight,
80% by weight, 85% by weight, 90% by weight or 95% by weight, of

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m-xylylenediamine and
• at most respectively 50% by weight, 40% by weight, 30% by weight, 25%) by weight,
20%) by weight, 15% by weight, 10% by weight or 5% by weight, of
p-xylylenediamine.
In another possible embodiment of the invention, component a) a) is composed of
• more than 50% by weight, respectively at least 60%o by weight, 70% by weight, 75% by weight, 80%) by weight, 85%) by weight, 90% by weight or 95%o by weight, of p-xylylenediamine and
• less than 50% by weight, respectively at least 40% by weight, 30%) by weight, 25% by weight, 20%o by weight, 15% by weight, 10%) by weight or 5%o by weight, of m-xylylenediamine.
Component a) can be composed of a mixture of two or more different polyamides which per se respectively have the composition described under a).
Although the polyamide of b) can, for example, be PA6 or PA66, preference is given to higher polyamides having an average of at least 8 carbon atoms in the monomer units, e.g. PA88, PA610, PA612, PA614, PA810, PA812, PA814, PA1010, PA1012, PA1014, PA1212, PAH or PA 12. Further preference is that the polyamide of b) derives from a diamine sterically similar to xylylenediamine, i.e. that the monomer units formed from this compound have a similar length, this being the case with hexamethylenediamine, for example. It is moreover advantageous that the polyamide of b) and the polyamide a) derive from the same, or from a similar, dicarboxylic acid. Substantially transparent blends can be obtained most readily in these instances.
The polyamide composition can also comprise the following other components:
a) nucleating agents, selected from nanoscale fillers and basic metal salts, metal oxides or metal hydroxides; the amount of the latter used is, in order to ensure the desired transparency, at most the amount that can be dissolved in the melt with reaction with the carboxy end groups of the polyamides;
b) conventional auxiliaries and, respectively, additives in the amounts conventional for polyamide moulding compositions, examples being stabilizers, UV absorbers or lubricants,
c) colorants which do not significantly affect transparency,
d) fillers whose refractive index is precisely the same as or differs only slightly from that of the matrix (isorefractive fillers),

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e) other polymer components whose refractive index is precisely the same as or differs only slightly from that of the matrix, and
f) nucleating agents based on organic compounds which do not substantially affect transparency.
Polycondensates based on xylylenediamines are known from the literature, and this also includes the use of dodecanedioic acid as diacid (e.g. US 3 803 102 and US 4 433 136). Polyamides whose underlying structure comprises MXD6 or MXD12 are used for production of films in the packaging sector (e.g. EP-A1 172 202, US 5 955 180, EP-A-0 941 837, WO 00/23508). These films can also be multilayer films. Finally, FR-A-2 740 385 describes a decorative film with a transparent, printable outer layer composed of a polyamide, with a second layer composed of a (functionalized) polyolefin and with a third layer composed of a fibre-based nonwoven material. In the claims, the polyamide MXD6 is also mentioned as a material for the outer layer. Alongside use for decorating of sports items, e.g. skis, of sanitary items, and of furniture, general mention is also made of use in automobiles. However, high water absorption of the polyamide MXD6 means that this type of structure is unsuitable for applications in the automobile sector, in particular as paint replacement, because aqueous solutions of relevant chemicals, e.g. pancreatin, penetrate into the outer layer and can damage it (the pancreatin test serving to simulate the effect of bird droppings).
There has been no description hitherto in the literature of the use of the inventive polyamide compositions for the production of scratch-resistant decorative films or of scratch-resistant paint-replacement films, or of the film structure which is specifically advantageous here. Nor has there been any disclosure in the literature hitherto of the specific advantages of the inventive compositions for the ski and snowboard sector.
For the purposes of the invention, decorative films are films which can be printed and/or comprise a colour layer and moreover are intended to be bonded to a substrate in order to decorate its surface. The decoration can also be brought about by concealing optical defects of the surface, e.g. by covering surface roughness caused by fillers or reinforcing materials.
The inventive decorative film is a single-layer or multilayer film. In a multilayer embodiment, the type and number of the other layers depends on the technical requirements of the application; the only decisive factor is that the outer layer is composed of the moulding composition used according to the invention. By way of example, the following embodiments
are possible:
1. The film is a single-layer film. According to the definition, in this instance it is

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composed only of the outer layer; decorative effects can be applied either on the upper side or on the lower side via printing, e.g. by means of thermal sublimation print.
2. The film comprises not only the outer layer but also an underlying colour layer. The colour layer can be a paint layer; however, it is preferably composed of a coloured thermoplastics layer, corresponding to the prior art. By way of example, the thermoplastic can have the constitution identical with or similar to that of the outer layer, or can comprise a component thereof or another poly amide or, respectively, another polyamide which either adheres directly to the outer layer or has been adhesive-bonded with the aid of a sufficiently transparent adhesion promoter (for example a polyolefin functionalized using carboxy or anhydride or epoxy groups, or a thermoplastic polyurethane or a blend composed of the constituents of the layers to be bonded). Examples of colorants that can be used are organic dyes, inorganic or organic pigments, or metal flakes.
3. The film comprises not only an outer layer and, if appropriate, a colour layer, but also another layer which, as backing layer, brings about sufficient mechanical strength and, if appropriate, also linkage to the substrate.
4. The film comprises not only an outer layer and, if appropriate, a colour layer, but also an underlying adhesion-promoter layer for linkage to the substrate. Examples of suitable adhesion promoters are a polyolefin functionalized using carboxy or anhydride or epoxy groups, a thermoplastic polyurethane, a blend composed of the materials of the layer to be bonded and of the substrate or one of the adhesion promoters disclosed in the German Patent Application No. 102004029217.5 of 16.06.2004.
5. The film comprises not only an outer layer, and if appropriate a colour layer, and a backing layer, but also an underlying adhesion-promoter layer for linkage to the substrate. With respect to the adhesion promoter, the content of point 4. is applicable.
6. The film, e.g. a film of points 1 to 5, also comprises, if required, on the outer layer, for example if there are relatively high demands placed upon scratch resistance, a protective layer, for example a clear lacquer based on polyurethane. A protective layer in the form of a lacquer can also have been modified to increase scratch resistance according to the prior art. Alongside this, it is also possible to generate a protective layer on the component by way of vacuum-deposition processes. If appropriate, there can also be a peelable protective film applied by lamination to the film to provide

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protection during transport or assembly, for example being peeled away after production of the composite part.
in the case of embodiments 2 to 6, the transparent outer layer can first be printed in the nanner of a monofilm from one side or from both sides, this being followed by a second step bonding with the other layers to give the multilayer film. In multilayer films, e.g. films produced via coextrusion, the transparent outer layer can be printed from above. The outer ayer can also be transparent or opaquely coloured.
In one preferred embodiment, the colour layer and/or the backing layer comprises a moulding composition in particular of a polyetheramide or of a polyetheresteramide, and preferably of a polyetheramide or polyetheresteramide based on a linear aliphatic diamine having from 6 to 18 and preferably from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, on a linear aliphatic or aromatic dicarboxylic acid having from 6 to 18 and preferably from 6 to 12 carbon atoms and on a polyether having an average of more than 2.3 carbon atoms per oxygen atom and having a number-average molecular weight of from 200 to 2000. The moulding composition of this layer can comprise other blend components, e.g. polyacrylates or polyglutarimides having carboxy or carboxylic anhydride or epoxy groups, a rubber containing functional groups, and/or a poly amide. Moulding compositions of this type are prior art; they are described by way of example in EP 1 329 481 A2 and DE-A 103 33 005, these being expressly incorporated herein by way of reference. In order to ensure good layer adhesion it is advantageous for the poly amide fraction of the polyamide elastomer here to be composed of monomers identical with those used in one of the components of the outer layer. However, this is not essential for achieving good adhesion. As an alternative to the polyamide elastomers, the colour layer and/or the backing layer can comprise, alongside a polyamide, a conventional impact-modifying rubber. An advantage of these embodiments is that in many instances there is no need for thermoforming of the film as a separate step prior to reverse-coating by an injection-moulding method, since the latter also simultaneously subjects the film to a forming process.
In one preferred embodiment, the thickness of the film or multilayer film with the inventive outer layer is from 0.02 to 1.2 mm, particularly preferably from 0.05 to 1mm, very particularly preferably from 0.1 to 0.8 mm and with particular preference from 0.2 to 0.6 mm. If the film is a multilayer film, in one preferred embodiment the thickness of the inventive outer layer is from 0.01 to 0.5 mm, particularly preferably from 0.02 to 0.3 mm, very particularly preferably from 0.04 to 0.2 mm and with particular preference from 0.05 to 0.15 mm. The film is produced by means of known methods, for example via extrusion, or in the case of multilayer systems via coextrusion or lamination. It can then be subjected to a forming process, if appropriate.

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Examples of methods of coherent bonding of the film to the substrate are adhesive bonding, pressing, lamination, or coextrusion, or reverse coating by an injection-moulding, foaming, or compression-moulding method. In order to achieve better adhesion, the film can by way of example be previously flame-treated or treated with a plasma. Prior to formation of the bond between film and substrate, the film can also be subjected to mechanical treatment or forming processes, e.g. via thermoforming or other processes. The surface can be structured via embossing, for example. The surface can also be pre-structured in the context of film extrusion, for example using specifically designed rolls. The resultant composite part can then also be subjected to a forming process.
Examples of suitable substrates are moulding compositions based on polyolefins, on polyamides, on polyesters, on polycarbonates, on ABS, on polystyrene, or on styrene copolymers.
In one preferred embodiment, the inventive film is used as outer layer of a film composite for the design or decoration of surfaces on and in automobiles and utility vehicles, the film having been adhesive-bonded to a plastics substrate. The correspondingly designed component can be of sheet-like structure, an example being a bodywork part, for example a roof module, wheel surround, engine cover, or door. Other possible embodiments are those in which the components produced are elongate, with or without curvature, for example cladding, e.g. the cladding on what are known as A columns of an automobile, or decorative and cover strips of any type. Another example is provided by protective cladding for door sills. Alongside applications in motor-vehicle exteriors, constituents of the interior can also be advantageously decorated via the inventive films, in particular decorative elements such as strips and panels, because impact resistance and resistance to chemicals, such as cleaners, is also required in the interior.
In another preferred embodiment, the inventive film is used as topcoat for sports equipment, for example snowboard-like equipment of any type, such as skis or snowboards.
The film can moreover be used by way of example as a protective film to counter soiling, UV radiation, effects of weathering, chemicals, or abrasion, or as a barrier film on vehicles, in the

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household, on floors, on tunnels, on tents, and on buildings, or as a carrier of decorative effects, for example for topcoats of sports equipment, of boats, of aircraft, in the household, or on buildings.
The invention is illustrated below by way of example. Preparation of starting; polyamides:
1. Preparation of PA MXD6
The following starting materials were charged to a 100 1 polycondensation reactor:
14.964 kg of m-xylylenediamine
16.058 kg of adipic acid
19.618 kg of deionized water
3.074 g of a 50% strength aqueous solution of hypophosphorous acid.
The starting materials were melted under nitrogen and heated to about 180°C in the sealed autoclave, with stirring, whereupon the internal pressure became about 20 bar. This internal pressure was retained for 2 hours; the melt was then heated further to 280°C under continuous depressurization to atmospheric pressure. Nitrogen was then passed over the melt for about 1 hour while maintaining the temperature of 280°C, until the desired torque had been indicated. The melt was then discharged by means of a gear pump and strand-pelletized. The pellets were dried for 16 hours at 80°C under the vacuum generated by a water pump.
Yield: 22.7 kg
The product had the following properties:
Crystallite melting point Tm: 243°C (to DIN 53765) Relative solution viscosity r)rei: 1.59 (to DIN EN ISO 307)
2. Preparation of PA MXD10
The following starting materials were charged to a 1001 polycondensation reactor:
11.751 kg of m-xylylenediamine
17.449 kg of 1,10-decanedioic acid (sebacic acid)
18.326 kg of deionized water
3.281 g of a 50% strength aqueous solution of hypophosphorous acid.

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The procedure was as above.
Yield: 21.3 kg
The product had the following properties:
Crystallite melting point Tm: 188°C Relative solution viscosity ŋrei: 1.65
3. Preparation of PA MXD12
The following starting materials were charged to a 1001 polycondensation reactor:
11.441 kg of m-xylylenediamine
19.347 kg of 1,12-dodecanedioic acid
19.57 kg of deionized water
3.17 g of a 50% strength aqueous solution of hypophosphorous acid.
The procedure was as above.
Yield: 24 kg
The product had the following properties:
Crystallite melting point Tm: 183°C Relative solution viscosity ŋrei: 1.58
4. Preparation of PA MXD13
The following starting materials were charged to a 1001 polycondensation reactor:
11.761 kg of m-xylylenediamine
21.100 kg of 1,13-tridecanedioic acid (brassylic acid)
21.76 kg of deionized water
3.373 g of a 50% strength aqueous solution of hypophosphorous acid.
The procedure was as above.
Yield: 24.1 kg
The product had the following properties:
Crystallite melting point Tm: 167°C

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Relative solution viscosity ŋrei: 1.57
5. Preparation of PA MXD14
The following starting materials were charged to a 100 1 polycondensation reactor:
12.939 kg of m-xylylenediamine
24.544 kg of 1,14-tetradecanedioic acid
11.11 kg of deionized water
3.88 g of a 50% strength aqueous solution of hypophosphorous acid.
The procedure was as above.
Yield: 31.2 kg
The product had the following properties:
Crystallite melting point Tm: 183°C Relative solution viscosity ŋrei: 1.60
6. Preparation of PA MXD18
The following starting materials were charged to a 100 1 polycondensation reactor:
10.880 kg of m-xylylenediamine
25.120 kg of 1,18-octadecanedioic acid
9.08 kg of deionized water
4.14 g of a 50% strength aqueous solution of hypophosphorous acid.
The procedure was as above.
Yield: 29.5 kg
The product had the following properties:
Crystallite melting point Tm: 173°C Relative solution viscosity ŋrei: 1.56
7. Preparation of PA MXD12/PXD12
The following starting materials were charged to a 100 1 polycondensation reactor:
8.174 kg of m-xylylenediamine

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3.407 kg of p-xylylenediamine
19.577 kg of 1,12-dodecanedioic acid
19.86 kg of deionized water
3.230 g of a 50% strength aqueous solution of hypophosphorous acid.
The procedure was as above.
Yield: 24.9 kg
The product had the following properties:
Crystallite melting point Tm: 197°C Relative solution viscosity ŋrei: 1.55
Processing
1. Compounding
The polyamides prepared were compounded, if appropriate together with the polyamides stated in the tables, with 0.75% by weight of a stabilizer mixture and 0.05% by weight of a nucleating agent (in each case based on the polyamide) in a Werner + Pfleiderer ZSK 30 twin-screw kneader whose barrel temperature was 240°C (PA MXD6: 280°C) at 150 rpm with 20 kg/hour throughput.
2. Film extrusion
The monofilms were produced on a Collin system with take-off speed of 2.5m/min by the chill roll process at a melt temperature of 250°C (PA MXD6: 280°C). Multilayer films were produced on a Collin multilayer film system using a calender unit, type 168/400, by the calendering method.
3. Reverse coating by an injection-moulding method
For the wash-brush test and for the scratch resistance test, the films were reverse-coated by an injection-moulding method in an Engel Victory 540/200 injection-moulding machine in a high-gloss mould, using a PA 12 moulding composition. The dimensions of the sheets were 150 x 105 x3mm.
Testing of monofilms for chemicals resistance
The test substances were tested in a 2610 gradient oven (manufacturer: BYK Gardner). In order to favour thermal conductivity, the films were provided with the backing of self-adhesive aluminium foil. Immediately after application of the chemicals, the films were directly placed on the Ceran surface heated stepwise via a gradient. The slide systems of the

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gradient oven moved onto the film at the start and, with a narrow edge, pressed the film onto the heated surface at the front and rear. After 30 minutes, the slide systems retracted and the film was removed from the heated surface and cleaned. The films were assessed visually one hour after the procedure and again 24 hours after the procedure. The result after 24 hours was the valid value; see Table 1. The stated values are the temperatures at which alterations of the surface began to be discernable visually.
It is seen that the inventive films have markedly improved stability when compared with substances relevant to external parts of automobiles.
Measurement of gloss values
The measurements were carried out to DIN 67530 on multilayer films; details can be seen in Table 2. Comparison is made with a multilayer film whose outer layer was composed of PA 12. It is seen that according to the invention the gloss has been markedly improved.
Transmittance measurement
Transmittance was measured on monofilms of thickness 50 jam to ISO 13468-2; see Table 3. It is seen that transparency is comparable with that of PA12 and is therefore entirely sufficient for the application in question.
Wash-brush resistance test
Multilayer films reverse-coated by an injection-moulding method were tested in the Amtec-
Kistler, DIN 55668:2002-08 wash-brush resistance test. The results are shown in Table 4. It is
seen that markedly less damage occurs with the inventive films and, respectively, composite
parts.
Measurement of scratch resistance
Surface gloss prior to and after a scratch test was determined by an internal Degussa company method on multilayer films reverse-coated by an injection-moulding method. The abrasion test appliance used was in accordance with Renault V. I. specification 31.03.406/A, issue of 94-06. First, the gloss was measured at various points on the test specimen. Then the test specimen was installed horizontally in the holder intended for this purpose. A sieve fabric composed of polyamide (25µm mesh width) was wetted with 0.1% strength Persil solution and stretched over the two rams on the underside of the lever arm. The lever arms with the abrasive rams were then swivelled over so that the rams were in contact with the test specimen, in each case with an added weight of 3 kg. The test specimen was then moved to and fro using 80 double strokes, whereupon the rams scratched the surface. The gloss was then again measured at the scratched sites. Table 5 shows the results. It is seen that the

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inventive films and, respectively, composite parts have substantially higher scratch resistance when compared with a PA 12 surface.

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Claims:
1. A decorative film whose outer layer is composed of a polyamide composition which
comprises the following components:
a) from 50 to 100 parts by weight of polyamide which can be prepared from the
following monomers:
a) from 70 to 100mol% of diamine, selected from m-xylylenediamine,
p-xylylenediamine and mixtures of these,
(J) from 0 to 30 mol% of other diamines having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, where the mol% data here are based on the entirety of diamine, and
y) from 70 to 100 mol% of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having from 10 to
18 carbon atoms and
8) from 0 to 30 mol% of other dicarboxylic acids having from 6 to 9 carbon
atoms, where the mol% data here are based on the entirety of dicarboxylic acid;
b) from 0 to 50 parts by weight of another polyamide, where the parts by weight of a) and b) give a total of 100.
2. A decorative film according to claim 1, characterized in that
component a) a) is composed of at least 50% by weight of m-xylylenediamine and at most 50% by weight of p-xylylenediamine.
3. A decorative film according to claim 1, characterized in that
component a) a) is composed of more than 50% by weight of p-xylylenediamine and less than 50% by weight of m-xylylenediamine.
4. A decorative film according to any one of the preceding claims, which is composed only of that layer.
5. A decorative film according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is composed of a plurality of layers.
6. A decorative film according to claim 5, characterized in that
it comprises a colour layer, a backing layer and/or an adhesion-promoter layer.

O.Z.6561
7. A decorative film according to claim 6,
characterized in that
the colour layer and/or the backing layer comprise(s) a polyamide elastomer or an impact-modifying rubber.
8. A decorative film according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
its thickness is from 0.02 to 1.2 mm.
9. A decorative film according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 8,
characterized in that
the thickness of the outer layer is from 0.01 to 0.5 mm.
10. A film according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
it is produced via extrusion, coextrusion or lamination and is then, if appropriate, subjected to a forming process.
11. A composite part, composed of a film according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and of a
substrate.
12. A composite part according to claim 11,
characterized in that
it is a bodywork part of a motor vehicle, is a constituent of the interior of a motor vehicle, is cladding, is a decorative strip, is a cover strip, is a panel or is a decorative element.
13. A composite part according to claim 11, characterized in that it is sports equipment.
14. A composite part according to any one of claims 11 to 13,
characterized in that
it is produced via adhesive bonding, pressing, lamination, coextrusion, or reverse-coating by an injecting-moulding, foaming or compression-moulding method.
Dated this 26 May of October 2006