3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Larry A Meixner

Mieczyslaw H Mazurek

Clyde D Calhoun

Jie Yang

Audrey A Sherman

Richard John Pokorny

Ying-Yuh Lu

Frank Thomas Sher

Wendi J Winkler

Yaoqi Joe Liu

Kenneth D Wilson

Steven J Rhyner

Erica J Draheim

Philip Edwin Watson

Robert S Moshrefzadeh

Leland Ray Whitney

Robert M Emmons

David J Lamb

Francis V Loncar, Jr

Buren R Ree

Sharon R Bemis

Catherine A Leatherdale

Patrick R Fleming

Jeffrey O Emslander

Craig R Schardt

David Scott Thompson

Ronald S Steelman

David James Yarusso

Jeffrey Robert Janssen

John R David

Kanta Kumar

Danny Leroy Fleming

Janet T Keller

Michael R Kesti

Kevin M Eliason

David Scott Seitz

Larry R Lappi

Haruyuki Mikami

Stefan O Dietrich

Michael J Moszer

The present disclosure relates to a profiled masking article and method of masking a substrate to be treated or painted that provides a feathered or soft edge between painted and unpainted areas. The masking article described herein may be used as a single strip, or as multiple strips, placed side by side, wherein a strip is removed between treatments of different types. This allows successive treatment layers to completely cover previous layers, thus avoiding defects resulting from exposed layers of material. In an embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a masking article comprising: at least one elongate body (), said body () having a top surface, a bottom surface and at least two lateral surfaces, wherein at least a portion of said body comprises an adhesive material; and a generally planar top portion (), connected to the body along at least one surface, said top portion () having a microstructured surface.

Masking article and method of masking of substrate

An adhesive composition comprising from about 2 to about 10 wt. % multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated siloxane polymer, from about 2 to about 10 wt. % monofunctional ethylenically unsaturated siloxane macromer, and from about 85 to about 96 wt. % vinyl monomer is described. The adhesive composition is used to make adhesive articles that, when applied to a substrate, remain removable or repositionable, even after long periods of time. The adhesive composition may be used in transfer adhesive films, and in laminated articles suitable for use in optical applications.

Adhesive composition and articles made therefrom

A structured paper release liner () for use with an article () backed with a pressure sensitive adhesive, an adhesive-backed article assembly () and methods of making each are disclosed. The liner () comprises a piece of paper () having a release side free of a structural support layer, a back side, and a structured release surface () having a pattern formed into the paper () on the release side. A release material is on the structured release surface of the paper. The pattern formed in the paper () is designed so as to form fluid egress channels in a bonding surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive (). The fluid egress channels define a structured bonding surface () having exit pathways for fluid to bleed out from behind the article when the structured bonding surface () is adhered to or otherwise disposed on a substrate.

Structured paper release liner, adhesive-backed article assembly and method of making same

An adhesive article comprising a first substrate having thereon an adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a cured adhesive composition of a multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated siloxane polymer; and the first substrate comprises a polymer film, paper, a metal film, glass, ceramic, or a combination thereof; and wherein the adhesive layer has a microstructured surface that is substantiously continuous, and wherein the microstructured surface forms an array or pattern. The adhesive article is used to make laminated articles that spontaneously wet, and when applied to a substrate, remain removable or repositionable, even after long periods of time. The adhesive composition may be used in transfer adhesive films, and in laminated articles suitable for use in optical applications.

Microstructured adhesive article and articles made therefrom

An adhesive composition comprising a multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated siloxane polymer, a monofunctional ethylenically unsaturated siloxane macromer, and a vinyl monomer is described. The adhesive composition is used to make adhesive articles that, when applied to a substrate, remain removable or repositionable, even after long periods of time. The adhesive composition may be used in transfer adhesive films, and in laminated articles suitable for use in optical applications.

A phosphor tape article includes a phosphor layer having a phosphor and a polymeric binder material, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed adjacent the phosphor layer such that light transmitted through the pressure sensitive adhesive layer is received by the phosphor layer, and a release liner disposed on the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. The pressure sensitive adhesive layer is disposed between the release liner and the phosphor layer. The phosphor is suitable for excitation by UV or blue LED light, and the phosphor emission has a characteristic decay rate of less than 1 second. Light emitting devices including pieces of phosphor tape, and methods of making such devices, are also disclosed.

Phosphor tape article

An integrated optical assembly including a light management component with an entry surface and a light delivery component having an exit surface attached to the entry surface of the light management component is disclosed The light management component and the light delivery component are attached together in a manner that defines voids between the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component. The voids between the light management component and the light delivery component may provide an air interface over substantial portions of the entry surface of the light management component.

Multifunctional optical assembly

Adhesives having a microreplicated topography are prepared from contacting a microembossed pattern to a layer of adhesive. When an adhesion interface is established between the layer of adhesive and a supporting substrate, the topography of the adhesive surface controls the performance of the adhesion interface. Articles having microreplicated adhesive surfaces are also disclosed that have an advantage of providing microchannels for fluid egress for an effective period of time. Multiple microeombossed patterns produce microreplicated adhesive surfaces having both microchannels for fluid egress and pegs for improved adhesive properties.

Adhesives having a microreplicated topography and methods of making and using same

Films are closely conformed to substrates by reducing the air pressure to a subatmospheric level in at least one airflow pathway that is present in the film or the substrate. The reduced air pressure enables the film to tightly contact the substrate in locations where protrusions or depressions on the substrate are present. The method is particularly useful for conforming film containing graphics to a variety of substrates such as the sides of semi-trailers or concrete block walls, even in instances where the semi-trailer sides include rivets and/or grooves and where the concrete block wall is relatively rough.

Method of conforming an adherent film to a substrate by application of vacuum

A pressure sensitive adhesive layer with a structured surface, wherein the adhesive layer is capable of being dry laminated to a substrate to form a laminate. The adhesive layer has a haze after lamination, measured according to ASTM D 1003-95, of less than about 50% of the haze of the adhesive layer before lamination. After dry lamination, the adhesive layer has a luminous transmittance of more than about 85%, a haze of less than about 25%, and an opacity of less than about 3%.

Specular laminates

Adhesives having a microreplicated topography are prepared from contacting a microembossed pattern to a layer of adhesive. When an adhesion interface is established between the layer of adhesive and a supporting substrate, the topography of the adhesive surface controls the performance of the adhesion interface. Articles having microreplicated adhesive surfaces are also disclosed that have an advantage of providing microchannels for fluid egress for an effective period of time. Multiple microembossed patterns produce microreplicated adhesive surfaces having both microchannels for fluid egress and pegs for improved adhesive properties.

An adhesive sheet having an adhesive layer and at least one surface being topologically microstructured, either with configured structures or a coating of particles and an underlying adhesive such that the adhesive layer has at least two levels of adhesion, a contact bond and an application bond, such that initial contact bond is substantially less than the application bond and that the contact bond simultaneously changes to the application bond with the application of pressure onto the adhesive sheet.

Positionable and repositionable adhesive article

Method of preparing an adhesive sheet comprising (1) a backing, and (2) an adhesive layer having at least one topologically microstructured surface comprising a plurality of pegs, optionally containing one or more beads, substantially uniformly distributed and protruding outwardly from the adhesive layer, wherein the pegs have essentially flat tops that comprise less than 25% of the total surface contact area of the adhesive layer, and have a height of at least 15 .mu.m.

Method of preparing an adhesive article

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Larry A Meixner