Adhesive articles with improved air egress and methods of making the same

• US 20050208252A1
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Hannington, Pradeep Iyer
• Original Assignee: Michael Hannington, Pradeep Iyer
• Inventors: Iyer, Pradeep, Hannington, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,332,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/40.100
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/00 Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/00 Layered products comprising a layer of a particular substance not covered by groups B32B11/00 - B32B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/204 the adhesive coating being discontinuous
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/206 the adhesive layer comprising non-adhesive protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/10 without carriers
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/35 Heat-activated
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/38 Pressure-sensitive adhesives [PSA]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24826 Spot bonds connect components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2486 with outer strippable or release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles

Abstract

This invention relates to an adhesive article which provides air egress. Air egress is provided by supplying a route, such as areas of no initial adhesion for the air to flow out from under the construction. The invention relates to an adhesive article comprising a facestock having a front surface and a back surface, a continuous layer of adhesive having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein the upper surface of the adhesive layer is adhered to the back surface of the facestock, and a plurality of spaced-apart non-adhesive material which is in contact with the lower surface of the adhesive layer wherein the lower surface of the adhesive layer has a Sheffield roughness of at least about 10 and the adhesive article provides air egress. The invention also relates to methods of preparing the adhesive articles. These articles have usefulness as industrial graphics images, as well as decorative coverings, etc. The articles provide air egress and optionally repositionability and slideability.

Claims

1. A release liner comprising

a moldable polyolefin layer,

a release layer overlying the polyolefin layer, the release layer having a top surface,

a plurality of printed ink forms embedded into the release layer, the ink forms having a top surface, wherein the top surface of the ink forms is even with or below the top release surface of the release layer,

wherein the release liner has an embossed raised pattern of microstructures on the top release surface.

2. The release liner of claim 1 wherein the ink forms comprise a polymeric ink.

3. The release liner of claim 1 wherein the embossed raised pattern comprises circles, ovals, diamonds, squares, rectangles, triangles, polygons, lines, irregular shapes or combinations of two or more thereof.

4. The release liner of claim 1 wherein the embossed raised pattern comprises lines.

5. The release liner of claim 1 wherein the ink forms have an average thickness of about 0.3 microns to about 100 microns.

6. The release liner of claim 2 wherein the polymeric ink comprises at least one UV curable ink.

7. The release liner of claim 1 further comprising a continuous layer of adhesive having a bottom surface and a top surface and end edges, wherein the bottom surface of the adhesive is adhered to the top release surface and has an incised pattern complimentary to the embossed raised pattern of the release surface.

8. The release liner of claim 7 wherein the incised pattern comprises a plurality of lines.

9. The release liner of claim 8 wherein the incised pattern provides a path for air egress to an end edge.

10. The release liner of claim 7 further comprising a facestock adhered to the top surface of the adhesive layer.