ARTICLES AND METHODS OF MASKING OR PROTECTING A SUBSTRATE

• US 20090095400A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Eliason, Kevin M., Stelter, John D., Ista, Troy K., Hager, Patrick J., Reid, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,105,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/60
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/24 made at least partly of flexible material, e.g. sheets of paper or fabric
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/204 the adhesive coating being discontinuous
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2400/263 in the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/21 Paper; Textile fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/15 Sheet, web, or layer weakened to permit separation through thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2839 with release or antistick coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2754 Pressure-sensitive adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/60 Nonwoven fabric [i.e., nonwoven strand or fiber material]

Abstract

A protection sheet and method of protecting a substrate is disclosed. In an embodiment, the protection sheet comprises an adhesive coated nonwoven material. In an embodiment a surface of the protection sheet captures and retains paint overspray, dust, dirt and other contaminants so as to provide a cleaner paint job. In an embodiment the protection sheet may be laminated to a second nonwoven or woven material to allow clean removal after extended use. The protection sheet may be used to protect horizontal or vertical substrates, and is particularly suited to protect the surfaces of a paint booth used in automotive spray-painting operations.

Claims

1. A protection sheet comprising:

(a) a nonwoven material having opposing first and second major surfaces;

(b) a pressure sensitive adhesive, disposed on the second major surface of the nonwoven material; and

(c) a scrim material in contact with at least a portion of the pressure sensitive adhesive.

2. The protection sheet of claim 1, wherein the scrim material is disposed on top of the pressure sensitive adhesive so at least a portion of the scrim material is substantially free of adhesive.

3. The protection sheet of claim 1, wherein the scrim material is disposed between the pressure sensitive adhesive and the second major surface of the nonwoven material.

4. The protection sheet of claim 1, wherein the nonwoven material comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of polyester, rayon, polyolefin, cotton, and blends thereof.

5. The protection sheet of claim 4, wherein the nonwoven material comprises polyester fibers.

6. The protection sheet of claim 1, wherein the nonwoven material comprises a material taken from the group consisting of:

spun laced fibers, spun bond fibers, melt blown fibers, and thermal bonded fibers.

7. The protection sheet of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is selected from the group consisting of acrylate polymers, natural and synthetic rubbers, silicone polymers, polyurethanes, polyolefins, poly(vinyl ethers) and styrene block copolymers.

8. The protection sheet of claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises a second scrim material.

9. The protection sheet of claim 1, wherein the scrim material comprises woven polyester fibers.

10. The protection sheet of claim 1, wherein the scrim material has less than 50 threads in the warp direction for every 30 threads in the fill direction.

11. The protection sheet of claim 10, wherein the scrim material has less than 30 threads in the warp direction for every 15 threads in the fill direction.

12. The protection sheet of claim 1 further comprising an optical brightener.

13. The protection sheet of claim 1, wherein the sheet is wound in a roll for dispensing.

14. The protection sheet of claim 13, wherein the roll is perforated to facilitate removal and use.

15. The protection sheet of claim 1, further comprising a low adhesion backsize disposed on the first major surface of the nonwoven material.

16. The protection sheet of claim 1, wherein the layer of pressure sensitive adhesive has a coat weight of at least 10 grams/meter².

17. The protection sheet of claim 16, wherein the adhesive is crosslinked.

18. The protection sheet of claim 1, wherein the sheet has a peel adhesion of less that 25 kg/meter after ninety-six, 30 minute bake cycles at 180°

C.

19. The protection sheet of claim 1, wherein the sheet has a particulate retention of at least 20%.

20. The protection sheet of claim 1, wherein the sheet has an adhesive transfer of less than 25% after ninety-six, 30 minute bake cycles at 180°

C.

21. A method of protecting a work surface comprising the steps of:

(a) providing at least one protection sheet comprising

(i) a nonwoven material having opposing first and second major surfaces;

(ii) a pressure sensitive adhesive, disposed on the second major surface of the nonwoven material; and

(iii) a scrim material in contact with at least a portion of the pressure sensitive adhesive; and

(b) adhering the at least one protection sheet to a substrate to be protected.