Avery Dennison Corporation

Dow Corning Corporation

Eng-Pi Chang

Karl Josephy

Edward I Sun

Yao-Feng Wang

Johannes Schut

Ramin Heydarpour

Mitchell J Rackovan

Roger H Mann

Ronald F Sieloff

Philip Yi Zhi Chu

Yukihiko Sasaki

Melvin S Freedman

Luigi Sartor

Jesse C Ercillo

Daniel L Holguin

Carol A Caldwell

Reza Mehrabi

Richard A Huskey

Gary A Avalon

Donald F Kimes

Hsiao Ken Chuang

Michael Lang

Mitchell A Winnik

Dave Allen Soerens

Ali Reza Mehrabi

Maris J Ziemelis

David Nicholas Edwards

Dong-Tsai Hseih

Le-Hoa Hong

Edward Podosek

Zhisong Huang

Mark Wisniewski

Karen L Spilizewski

Kejian (Kevin) Huang

Ruth A LaChapell

Henk De Koning

Daniel R Logue

Yung-Hsiang Huang

Coen Van Tol

Paul C McCaslin

Craig S Corcoran

Cindy Chia-Wen Chiu

Maris Ziemelis

William J Jaecklein

Piet T Van Emmerik

Rishikash K Bharadwai

Henk De Konig

Robert J Fermin

Chunhwa Wang

A method of making a microneedle array structure () comprising a plurality of simultaneously formed microneedles (), each microneedle () having a protrusion () and a passageway () extending therethrough. The method comprises the steps of pressing an embossable sheet material between a complimentary tools and radiantly heating the sheet material using radiant energy from a radiant energy source. One tool is relatively-radiantly-transparent, and another tool and/or the sheet material is relatively-radiantly-absorptive.

Method of making microneedles

A microchamber structure () comprising a base layer (), a lid layer (), and at least one microchamber () having a cross-sectional shape with a depth (d) of less than 1000 microns and a width (w) of less than 1000 microns. The base layer () includes a depression () and the lid layer () includes a projection () positioned within the depression () to together define the cross-sectional shape of the microchamber ().

Covered microchamber structures

A method of embossing a sheet material includes: heating at least a portion of the sheet directly or indirectly with radiant energy from a radiant energy source; pressing a tool against the heated portion of the sheet, thereby patterning a surface of the sheet; and separating the sheet and the tool. The radiant energy may travel through a solid material that is relatively transparent to radiation, on its way to being absorbed by a relatively-absorptive material. The relatively-transparent material may be an unheated portion of the sheet, and the relatively-absorptive material may be either the tool or the heated portion of the sheet. Alternatively, the relatively-transparent material may be the tool, and the relatively-absorptive material may be all or part of the sheet. The method may be performed as one or more roll-to-roll operations.

Process and apparatus for microreplication

This invention relates to a die-cuttable, biaxially stretch-oriented monolayer film comprising a polyethylene having a density of about 0.940 g/cm or less, a propylene polymer or copolymer, or mixtures thereof, wherein the tensile modulus of the film in the machine direction is greater than the tensile modulus in the cross direction, the tensile modulus of the film in the cross direction is about 150,000 psi or less, and the film is free of copolymers of ethylene with an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or ester. Die-cuttable, stretch-oriented multilayer films also are described comprising the above films as a base layer, and a thermoplastic polymer skin layer bonded to the upper surface of the base layer. The biaxially oriented monolayer and multilayer films are useful in particular in preparing adhesive containing labelstock for use in adhesive labels.

Conformable and die-cuttable biaxially oriented films and labelstocks

There is provided an adhesive article including (a) a radiation curable adhesive layer comprising an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive and, optionally, an acrylated urethane polymer; and (b) a transparent carrier layer. The adhesive article may contain a radiation curable epoxy layer between the radiation curable adhesive layer and the transparent carrier layer. This adhesive article is particularly useful in preparing protective coatings on color filters for use in a liquid-crystal display panel structure. The radiation curable epoxy layer and radiation curable pressure sensitive adhesive are applied to the color filter and then exposed to UV radiation. The UV radiation exposure transforms the pressure sensitive adhesive from a removable adhesive to a permanent adhesive. The color filter with the UV cured adhesive layer is then baked to fully cure the adhesive layer and to transform the adhesive further into a near structural adhesive. The cured adhesive layer, and cured epoxy layer, if present, make up the protective coating for the color filter.

Protective coating for color filters

A multilayer film facestock for labels is described which comprises a base layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, and at least a first skin layer bonded to the upper surface of the base layer by a tie layer wherein the base layer comprises a propylene homopolymer or copolymer, or a blend of a propylene homopolymer and at least one propylene copolymer, and the first skin layer consists essentially of at least one polyethylene having a density of about 0.940 g/cm or less, wherein the multilayer facestock is not oriented. Adhesive containing multilayer labelstocks for use in adhesive labels also are described which comprise the multilayer film facestock described above and an adhesive layer adhesively joined to the lower surface of the base layer. Labels prepared from the facestock and the labelstock also are described.

Multilayer films and labels

A multilayer film facestock for labels is described which comprises a base layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, and at least a first skin layer bonded to the upper surface of the base layer by a tie layer wherein the base layer comprises a propylene homopolymer or copolymer, or a blend of a propylene homopolymer and at least one propylene copolymer, and the first skin layer consists essentially of at least one polyethylene having a density of about 0.940 g/cm or less. In one preferred embodiment, at least the base layer is machine direction oriented. In another embodiment, the base layer comprises a polyethylene having a density above 0.940 g/cm (high density) and the polyethylene is ultimately oriented in the machine direction. Adhesive containing multilayer labelstocks for use in adhesive labels also are described which comprise the multilayer film facestock described above and an adhesive layer adhesively joined to the lower surface of the base layer. Labels prepared from the facestock and the labelstock also are described.

The present invention is directed toward multilayer pressure-sensitive adhesive constructions with improved convertibility and aging. In one embodiment, the multilayer constructions have one layer formed of a first adhesive composition having a first glass transition temperature, and also having a tangent delta greater than about 0.5 at 10 radians per second at 20&deg; C., and a storage modulus greater than about 3&times;10 dynes/cm at 10 radians per second at 20&deg; C. At least a second adhesive layer is provided in the construction, the second adhesive layer comprising a second adhesive composition with a second glass transition temperature.

Multilayer pressure-sensitive adhesive construction

A polypropylene based composition is described which comprises a mixture of (A) a propylene polymer or copolymer and (B) an alkylene-alkyl acrylate copolymer. These polypropylene based compositions are useful in the preparation of continuous films such as by extrusion, and the films can be oriented by stretching in the machine direction. The films prepared from the polypropylene compositions of this invention exhibit a variety of useful properties including the desired printability, stiffness, and die-cuttability to be useful as a facestock in preparing labels. Films prepared from the polypropylene based compositions of the invention also can be used as a base film, and the films can be overlaminated with a functional film. Machine-direction oriented monolayer and multilayer film facestocks for labels, and adhesive containing film labelstock for use in adhesive labels also are described. The present invention, in one embodiment, relates to the discovery that the films of the polypropylene compositions are useful as the facestocks in label applications. The clear films prepared from the polypropylene compositions of the invention also are useful for laminating over other polymer films and film facestocks to provide improved printability, die-cuttability and/or scuff resistance characteristics to the polymer films and facestocks.

Polypropylene based compositions and films and labels formed therefrom

Method of forming a protective coating for color filters

A method of making a cover comprising a pair of welded thermoplastic polymer sheets having therebetween a stiffener. A stiffener is provided such that the stiffener has a leading edge, a trailing edge, and two side edges. A pair of thermoplastic polymer sheets are positioned on opposite sides of the stiffener. The thermoplastic polymer sheets each have two side edges substantially parallel to the side edges of the stiffener. The thermoplastic polymer sheets are ultrasonically welded around the periphery of the stiffener. The polymer sheets are cut to form a leading edge and trailing edge which are substantially parallel to the leading edge and trailing edge of the stiffener. The thermoplastic polymer is typically selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and a copolymer of ethylene or butene and propylene, the weight percent of ethylene or butene being between about 1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, and containing a sufficient amount of a nucleating agent to raise the recrystalization temperature to between about 100&deg; C. to about 140&deg; C.

Method for ultrasonically sealing a plastic film composed of polypropylene

This invention relates to a method for selecting a substrate intended for use in a cutting operation. The method is particularly suitable for selecting facestock materials intended for use in making pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) constructions such as PSA labels. The method includes the following steps (A)-(D). Step (A) involves cutting the substrate during a first cutting step to form at least two shapes in the substrate. The shapes are positioned in spaced relationship to each other. A matrix is formed during this cutting step. The matrix is the waste substrate material around the shapes. Step (B) involves cutting the substrate with a second cutting step to form a test sample. The test sample is comprised of part of one shape, part of the next adjacent shape, and the matrix around the shape parts. Step (C) involves separating the matrix from the shape parts while measuring the force required to separate the matrix from the shape parts and measuring the displacement of the separating force. Step (D) involves determining the friction energy required to separate the matrix from the shape parts. The selection of the substrate is dependent on the friction energy.

Method for selecting a substrate intended for use in a cutting operation

The present invention is directed toward a multilayer, pressure-sensitive adhesive construction wherein one layer is formed of a first adhesive composition having a first glass transition temperature, and at least a second layer is formed of a second adhesive composition having a second glass transition temperature. The first glass transition temperature differs from the second glass transition temperature by from about 10.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C.

Multilayer Pressure-sensitive adhesive construction

A release liner providing a release surface which comprises a first olefin polymer film formed having dispersed therein by high shear mixing a release substance which is polyethyleneimine octadecyl carbamide, polyvinyl octadecyl carbamate or a mixture thereof, coextruded or cocast onto a film formed from a second olefin polymer. The release liner has particular utility in diaper tape application.

Release films formed by coextrusion

A refastenable diaper is provided with a securing zone on the diaper outer cover of a peak strength of less than 2750 grams/inch. A refastenable adhesive taping system for the diaper includes an adhesive fastening tape comprising a flexible backing and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive permanently combined to said flexible backing and adapted to be applied to and released from the securing zone to fasten and open the diaper. The adhesive exhibits a 180.degree. peel adhesion of the tape to the securing zone that is less than the peak strength of the securing zone. The adhesive is selected to be within a specified rheological window, that is, have a maximum tan delta, or (tan delta).sub.max, of from 1.5 to 2.5 at 20.degree. C., reached at a frequency, or (w).sub.max, of greater than 500 rad/sec.

Refastenable adhesive taping system

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Arcadia, CA, United States of America

Eng-Pi Chang