3M Innovative Properties Company

3M Innovative Properties

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

William Ward Merrill

Timothy J Hebrink

Douglas Scott Dunn

Jeffery N Jackson

Michael F Weber

Richard C Allen

Andrew T Ruff

John Allen Wheatley

Peter D Condo

Carl A Stover

James M Jonza

Fred J Roska

Andrew John Ouderkirk

Stephen A Johnson

David T Yust

Dennis L Krueger

Matthew B Johnson

Kevin M Hamer

Desiree L Thompson

Rolf W Biernath

Jeffrey P Kalish

Martin B Wolk

Timothy J Nevitt

Olester Benson, Jr

Michael Benton Free

William L Kausch

William F Edmonds

Joan M Strobel

Brian H Williams

Steven J Rhyner

Ronald J Tabar

Derek J Dehn

Claire A Jalbert

Przemyslaw Pawel Markowicz

Kevin Michael Lewandowski

Thomas P Hanschen

Robert Steven Clough

Charles L Bruzzone

Fuming B Li

Jayant Chakravarty

Martin E Denker

Elisa M Cross

Susan L Kent

Anthony B Ferguson

Ignatius A Kadoma

Ning Zhou

Richard J Thompson

Chiu Ping Wong

Jeffrey D Amundson

Curtis A Harvey

Joseph A Gangi

Sumita Basu Mitra

Ramesh C Kumar

Caroline M Ylitalo

Robert L Brott

Neeraj Sharma

Kristopher J Derks

Michael D Crandall

Philip G Martin

Kanta Kumar

Yaoqi Joe Liu

Jung-Sheng Wu

Jacob D Young

Gina M Buccellato

Travis L Potts

Laurence R Gilbert

Bert T Chien

Bruce A Nerad

Kathryn R Bretscher

Gregory Edward Gilligan

Sonja S Mackey

Adam R Wohl

Janis R Gust

Audrey A Sherman

Michael Alan Meis

Kevin R Schaffer

David Scott Thompson

Jeffrey C Chang

Robert S Moshrefzadeh

David J Kinning

Jiaying Ma

John S Huizinga

Terence D Neavin

Joseph T Bartusiak

Pamela A Percha

Janet T Keller

William B Black

Nathaniel K Naismith

John F Van Derlofske, Iii

Bradley L Givot

Roger J Stumo

Michael W Mills

Gary B Hanson

John A Wheatley

Jun Xiao

Jeffrey A Boettcher

Sebastian F Zehentmaier

David A Kowitz

Harry E Johnson

Compositions and films are described comprising a polylactic (PLA) polymer and a copolymer comprising a first moiety comprising a C12-C30 alkyl group and a second moiety that is miscible in the composition. Suitable first moieties include a C12-C30 alkyl (meth)acrylate or a polyvinyl alcohol comprising pendent C12-C30 alkyl groups. Suitable second moieties include C1-C10 (meth)acrylic acid or ester thereof, vinyl acetate and ethylene vinyl acetate. The aforementioned composition may be used to form a release layer of an adhesive article such as a pressure sensitive adhesive tape. The films may be a monolithic film or a film layer of a multilayer film. The release layer may be disposed upon a substrate layer that may also comprise PLA. The films are produced by melt extrusion of the aforementioned composition and may be oriented.

Composition and films comprising polylactic acid polymer and copolymer comprising long chain alkyl moiety

Various embodiments of a respirator that includes a harness, a mask body, and an exhalation valve are disclosed. The exhalation valve can include a valve seat and a flexible flap that is in engagement with the valve seat. The flexible flap can have one or more materials that can cause the flap to flash when moving from a closed position to an open position or vice versa. The flashing valve can make it easier for a user to ascertain whether the valve is operating properly.

Respirator having optically active exhalation valve

A composition is described comprising semicrystalline polylactic acid polymer; polyvinyl acetate polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of at least 25&#xb0; C.; plasticizer; and optionally amorphous polylactic acid polymer. In another embodiment the composition further comprises nucleating agent. Also described are films comprising the composition as well as articles, such as a tape or sheet, comprising the film described herein and a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on the film.

Compositions and films comprising polylactic acid polymer, polyvinyl acetate polymer and plasticizer

A method of making an adhesive article is described comprising melt extruding a core film layer comprising a composition comprising at least 50% of a polylactic acid polymer. The method further comprises melt extruding an adhesive layer on a major surface of the core film layer such that regions of interdiffusion are present between the core film layer and adhesive layer. The adhesive layer may comprise C1-C10 (meth)acrylic acid or ester thereof, vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate, hydrolysed polyvinyl alcohol and combinations thereof. The adhesive layer may also be a pressure sensitive adhesive. The method further comprises melt extruding a release film layer on an opposing major surface of the core film layer. The layers are sequentially extruded or co-extruded and can be uniaxially or biaxially oriented. Articles comprising a core film layer comprising a composition comprising at least 50% of a polylactic acid polymer and an adhesive layer disposed on a major surface of the core layer are also described.

Adhesive articles comprising polylactic acid polymer film and method of making

In one embodiment, a film is described comprising a mixture of semicrystalline polylactic acid polymer; polyvinyl acetate polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) midpoint as measured by differential scanning calorimetry of at least 25&#xb0; C.; and plasticizer; wherein the film is oriented. In another embodiment, a film is described comprising a mixture comprising semicrystalline polylactic acid polymer, polymer having a midpoint Tg as measured by differential scanning calorimetry of at least 25&#xb0; C., and plasticizer; wherein the mixture exhibits a single midpoint Tg and the single midpoint Tg ranges from 40&#xb0; C. to 65&#xb0; C.; and wherein the film is oriented and the oriented film exhibits a higher midpoint Tg ranging from 40&#xb0; C. to 65&#xb0; C. and a lower midpoint Tg ranging from 5 to 25&#xb0; C.

Oriented polylactic acid polymer based film

A stretcher for processing a film is described. In particular, stretcher receives a film, graps edge portions of the film, conveys the film in a machine direction, and moves the opposing edge portions along diverging; substantially parabolic paths to form a stretched film.

Processes and apparatus for making transversely drawn films with substantially uniaxial character

Various embodiments of a respirator () that includes a harness (), a mask body (), and an exhalation valve () are disclosed. The exhalation valve () can include a valve seat () and a flexible flap () that is in engagement with the valve seat. The flexible flap can have one or more materials that can cause the flap to flash () when moving from a closed position to an open position or vice versa. The flashing valve can make it easier for a user to ascertain whether the valve is operating properly.

A dispersion, a resin containing the dispersion and polymer film formed from the resin are disclosed. The dispersion includes an infrared light absorbing pigment including organo-metallic particles being less than 1.5 micrometer or less than one micrometer in size. The dispersion also includes a dispersant including phosphorus and a polyol.

Stabilized infrared absorbing dispersions

A composition is described comprising semicrystalline polylactic acid polymer; polyvinyl acetate polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of at least 25 C; plasticizer; and optionally amorphous polylactic acid polymer. In another embodiment the composition further comprises nucleating agent. Also described are films comprising the composition as well as articles, such as a tape or sheet, comprising the film described herein and a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on the film.

A multilayer optical film has a packet of microlayers that selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference to provide a first reflective characteristic. At least some of the microlayers are birefringent. A stabilizing layer attaches to and covers the microlayer packet proximate an outer exposed surface of the film. Heating element(s) can physically contact the film to deliver heat to the packet through the stabilizing layer by thermal conduction, at altered region(s) of the film, such that the first reflective characteristic changes to an altered reflective characteristic in the altered region(s) to pattern the film. The stabilizing layer provides sufficient heat conduction to allow heat from the heating elements to change (e.g. reduce) the birefringence of the birefringent microlayers disposed near the outer exposed surface in the altered region(s), while providing sufficient mechanical support to avoid substantial layer distortion of the microlayers near the outer exposed surface in the altered region(s).

Patterned marking of multilayer optical film by thermal conduction

A method of making an optical film includes providing a film, substantially uniaxially orienting the film, and heat setting the oriented film. The film includes a polymeric material capable of developing birefringence.

Heat setting optical films

A reflective film includes a first optical stack that provides a first reflective characteristic and a second optical stack that provides a second reflective characteristic. The optical stacks also have first and second absorptive characteristics that are suitable to absorptively heat the respective stacks upon exposure to light including a write wavelength while maintaining the structural integrity of the stacks. The absorptive heating can change the first and second reflective characteristics to third and fourth reflective characteristics, respectively. A blocking layer that at least partially blocks light of the write wavelength may also be provided between the optical stacks to permit absorptive heating of any selected one of the optical stacks. The reflective characteristics of the optical stacks can thus be independently modified in any desired patterns by appropriate delivery of light beams that include the write wavelength.

Multilayer optical films suitable for bi-level internal patterning

Growing community of inventors

White Bear Lake, MN, United States of America

William Ward Merrill