Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

W James Hammar

Gaddam N Babu

Ronald F Ofstead

Denise R Rutherford

Miriam D Nave

John S Staral

Richard W Joos

The present invention provides pressure sensitive adhesives, compositions from which the pressure sensitive adhesives are formed, and articles having therein these pressure sensitive adhesives. The pressure sensitive adhesives, which have a Tg of less than about 20.degree. C., include a poly(.beta.-hydroxyorganoate) or mixture thereof. Preferably, these poly(.beta.-hydroxyorganoate)s include monomeric units of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein a minor amount (preferably no greater than about 20 mole percent) of the monomeric units have an R group containing 1-3 carbon atoms; and a major amount (preferably at least about 80 mole percent) of the monomeric units have an R group containing 4-30 (preferably 4-20) carbon atoms.

Poly(.beta.-hydroxyorganoate)pressure sensitive adhesive compositions

The present invention provides pressure sensitive adhesives, compositions from which the pressure sensitive adhesives are formed, and articles having therein these pressure sensitive adhesives. The pressure sensitive adhesives, which have a Tg of less than about 20.degree. C., include a poly(.beta.-hydroxyorganoate) or mixture thereof. Preferably, these poly(.beta.-hydroxyorganoate)s include monomeric units of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein: a minor amount (preferably no greater than about 20 mole percent) of the monomeric units have an R group containing 1-3 carbon atoms; and a major amount (preferably at least about 80 mole percent) of the monomeric units have an R group containing 4-30 (preferably 4-20) carbon atoms.

Poly(.beta.-hydroxyorganoate) pressure sensitive adhesive compositions

An elastomeric orthodontic device such as a ligature, rotation wedge or force module is made of a composition selected from one or more classes of materials, such that the device has certain physical properties useful for orthodontic treatment and also is resistant to staining by common foods and beverages such as mustard, tea and coffee.

Stain-resistant elastomeric orthodontic force module

An elastomeric orthodonic device such as a ligature, rotation wedge or force module is made of a composition selected from one or more classes of materials, such that the device has certain physical properties useful for orthodontic treatment and also is resistant to staining by common foods and beverages such as mustard, tea and coffee.

An abrasive composition and dental articles made from same, the composition including abrasive particles dispersed throughout and entrapped within a polyurea or polyurethane urea matrix which contains soft and hard segments wherein the matrix is made from the polymerization reaction of a polyfunctional amine and a polyfunctional isocyanate. The abrasive dental articles include prophylactic cups and polishing wheels, points and discs.

Abrasive dental articles

Polymerizable monomer compounds selected from the group having the formulae: ##STR1## wherein

Acrylate and methacrylate monomers and polymers

A crosslinkable polyurethane or polyurethane/polyurea comprises the reaction product of a composition comprising a macrodiol or macrodiamine, 2-gl;yceryl acrylate or 2-glyceryl methacrylate, a diisocyanate, and optionally a small glycol or small diamine as chain extender. The performance properties of the polyurethanes and polyurethane/polyureas can be controlled by adjustment of the crosslink level and/or curing parameters.

Polyurethanes and polyurethane/polyureas crosslinked using 2-glyceryl

A process for preparing shaped articles and shaped hydrogel articles including ophthalmic devices comprises the steps of preparing a polymer or copolymer comprising units derived from an ethylenically-unsaturated monomer bearing at least one trihaloacetoxy-substituent group, thermoforming said polymer by heating in a mold or in sheet-form at a temperature in the range of 100.degree. to 400.degree. C. for about 5 seconds to 15 minutes, and then cooling said polymer, to provide a shaped article, solvolyzing the resulting shaped article to provide a hydroxy-substituted polymeric shaped article, and optionally hydrating said hydroxy-substituted polymeric shaped article to provide a shaped hydrogel article.

Process of forming a hydroxy-substitute polymeric shaped article

A process for preparing shaped articles and shaped hydrogel articles including ophthalmic devices comprises the steps of preparing a polymer or copolymer comprising units derived from an ethylenically-unsaturated monomer bearing at least one trihaloacetoxy-substituent group, thermoforming said polymer by heating in a mold or in sheet-form at a temperature in the range of 100.degree. to 400.degree. C. for about 5 seconds to 15 minutes, and then cooling said polymer, to provide a shaped article, optionally, solvolyzing the resulting shaped article to provide a hydroxy-substituted polymeric shaped article, and optionally hydrating said hydroxy-substituted polymeric shaped article to provide a shaped hydrogel article.

Process for thermoformed articles

Polymerizable monomer compounds selected from the group having the formulae: ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or methyl;

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Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

W James Hammar