3M Innovative Properties Company

Karen J Calverley

Olester Benson, Jr

Jayshree Seth

Michael A Kropp

John P Baetzold

Robert L W Smithson

Serkan Yurt

Carsten Franke

Joseph C Dingeldein

Jay Arthur Esch

Alexander J Huffman

Setareh Niknezhad

Michael A Johnson

Daniel E Meyer

Paul S Engelen

Robert LW Smithson

A method of making an adhesive is provided, including obtaining an actinic radiation-polymerizable adhesive precursor composition disposed against a surface of an actinic radiation-transparent substrate and irradiating a first portion of the actinic radiation-polymerizable adhesive precursor composition through the actinic radiation-transparent substrate for a first irradiation dosage. The method further includes irradiating a second portion of the actinic radiation-polymerizable adhesive precursor composition through the actinic radiation-transparent substrate for a second irradiation dosage. The first portion and the second portion are adjacent to or overlapping with each other and the first irradiation dosage and the second irradiation dosage are not the same. The method forms an integral adhesive having a variable thickness in an axis normal to the surface of the actinic radiation-transparent substrate. Also, an adhesive article is provided, including a substrate having a major surface and an integral adhesive disposed on the major surface of the substrate. Further, methods are provided, including receiving, by a manufacturing device having one or more processors, a digital object comprising data specifying an article; and generating, with the manufacturing device by an additive manufacturing process, the article based on the digital object. A system is provided, including a display that displays a 3D model of an article; and one or more processors that, in response to the 3D model selected by a user, cause a 3D printer to create a physical object of an article.

Additive manufacturing methods for adhesives and adhesive articles

A method of making an adhesive is provided, including obtaining an actinic radiation-polymerizable adhesive precursor composition disposed against a surface of an actinic radiation-transparent substrate and irradiating a first portion of the actinic radiation-polymerizable adhesive precursor composition through the actinic radiation-transparent substrate for a first irradiation dosage. The method further includes irradiating a second portion of the actinic radiation-polymerizable adhesive precursor composition through the actinic radiation-transparent substrate for a second irradiation dosage. The first portion and the second portion are adjacent to or overlapping with each other and the first irradiation dosage and the second irradiation dosage are not the same. The method forms an integral adhesive having a variable thickness in an axis normal to the surface of the actinic radiation-transparent substrate. Also, an adhesive article is provided, including a substrate having a major surface and an integral adhesive disposed on the major surface of the substrate.

A thermoforming method and objects prepared using the thermoforming method are described. Non-self-supporting, polymeric films are initially formed into a three-dimensional shaped film on a male mold and then transferred to a female mold while being supported by the male mold. The three-dimensional shaped film can be further thermoformed, reinforced, or a combination thereof on the female mold. The resulting object has a substantially uniform thickness across a major surface. The method can preserve the surface quality of the polymeric film used to prepare the three-dimensional objects.

Methods of thermoforming non-self-supporting polymeric films and articles made therefrom

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Stillwater, MN, United States of America

Karen J Calverley