Method for preparing structured adhesive articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016115356-A1
Application number	US-201414895762-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 20, 2014
Priority date	Jun 6, 2013
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods of forming laminating adhesive articles include providing a multi-layer article, and a tool with a structured surface. The multi-layer articles include a substrate, an adhesive layer, and a liner. The multi-layer article is placed between the structured surface of the tool and a support surface that is hard and the tool is embossed against the liner by applying pressure or pressure/heat. The embossing causes the tool structures to distort the liner and the adhesive layer, and causes permanent topological changes in a portion of the adhesive layer, but does not distort the substrate. The distortion in the liner is retained upon release of the applied pressure. The portions of topologically changed adhesive can form convex structures that are permanent. Upon removal of the liner from the adhesive layer, the concave structures on the adhesive layer are unstable, but the convex structures are stable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An article comprising:
a substrate with a first major surface and a second major surface; an adhesive layer with a first major surface and a second major surface, wherein the first major surface of the adhesive layer is contacting the second major surface of the substrate, and wherein the adhesive layer comprises a mixture of adhesive components wherein the adhesive components have the same chemical composition but different topological properties; and a liner with a first major surface and a second major surface, wherein the first major surface of the liner is contacting the second major surface of the adhesive layer, and wherein the second major surface of the liner contains a plurality of concave structures that correspond to a plurality of concave structures in the adhesive layer, and wherein the concave structures do not distort the second major surface of the substrate.

2 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the difference in topological properties of the adhesive components comprises a difference in viscoelastic response.

3 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the difference in topological properties comprises a difference in peel adhesion.

4 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of concave structures in the adhesive layer are unstable upon removal of the liner.

5 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of concave structures comprise a plurality of concave microstructures.

6 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive components comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive composition and a pressure sensitive adhesive composition which has been permanently topologically distorted.

7 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer further comprises a plurality of convex structures adjacent to the concave structures.

8 . The article of claim 7 , wherein the convex structures comprise an adhesive composition which has been permanently topologically distorted.

9 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a film, a tape backing, a graphic article, a plastic article, a wound dressing, a protection film or tape, or a release liner.

10 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the liner comprises a polymeric film, a coated polymeric film, or a coated paper sheet.

11 . A method of forming an article comprising:
providing a multi-layer article comprising:
a substrate with a first major surface and a second major surface;
an adhesive layer with a first major surface and a second major surface, wherein the first major surface of the adhesive layer is contacting the second major surface of the substrate; and
a liner with a first major surface and a second major surface, wherein the first major surface of the liner is contacting the second major surface of the adhesive layer;
providing a tool with a structured surface; placing the multi-layer article between the structured surface of the tool and a support surface to form a construction, such that the first major surface of the substrate is in contact with the support surface, and wherein the support surface comprises a hard support surface; applying pressure to the construction such that at least some of the structures on the surface of the tool distort the liner and the adhesive layer but does not distort the second major surface of the substrate, and such that the distortion in the liner is retained upon release of the applied pressure, and wherein a portion of the adhesive layer is permanently distorted.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the permanent distortion of a portion of the adhesive layer causes the adhesive layer to form two components, a component that is unchanged and a component that has changed topological properties.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the change of topological properties causes a change in viscoelastic response, a change in peel adhesion, or a combination thereof.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the portion of the adhesive layer that is permanently distorted comprises a plurality of convex structures adjacent to the concave structures.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the tool comprises a tool with a microstructured surface.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising separation of the liner from the adhesive layer such that the concave structures on the adhesive layer are unstable, but do not immediately collapse.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising contacting the surface of the adhesive layer to an adherend to form an adhesive article.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the concave structures disappear with time.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the adhesive layer further comprises convex structures that do not disappear with time.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Free Michael Benton

Classifications

• B29C51/14

  using multilayered preforms or sheets · CPC title

• B29C37/0075

  using release sheets · CPC title

• C09J2201/606

  Chemistry & Metallurgy · mapped topic

• C09J7/02 Primary

  Chemistry & Metallurgy · mapped topic

• C09J133/00

  Adhesives based on homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by only one carboxyl radical, or of salts, anhydrides, esters, amides, imides, or nitriles thereof; Adhesives based on derivatives of such polymers · CPC title