Patent Application
20080057251
Laminates, as broadly defined herein, are composites that can be made from any one of several types of thermosetting plastic, e.g., phenolic, polyester, epoxy, or silicone, bonded to paper cloth, asbestos, wood, glass etc.
By “releasably adhered” it is meant that the adhered pressure sensitive adhesive layer will remain adhered to the release liner until it is to be removed, and can then be removed so as to expose the silicone release coating preferably without tearing the pressure sensitive adhesive film and/or separating the pressure sensitive adhesive film from facestock to which it is durably adhered. By “durably adhered” it is meant that a material, such as an adhesive, a coating or a surface treatment, that is adhered to a substrate, e.g., facestock, will remain adhered to the substrate during the normal use of the material and, if removable, can only be removed from the substrate by damaging the material and/or the substrate.
In one embodiment of the present invention, laminates or pressure sensitive products are disclosed and comprise (a) a facestock, e.g., label; (b) a release liner possessing a silicone release coating composition that has been cured; (c) a layer comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, wherein the silicone release coating is interposed between the release liner and the layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive and is preferentially adherent to the release liner, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (c) is releasably interposed between the silicone release coating and the facestock and is preferentially adherent to the facestock. Additional layers can be interdispersed between the facestock and the layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive and between the release liner and the silicone release coating using conventional techniques to provide additional desirable properties such as increased strength, increased dimensional stability, etc.
The facestock can be paper or other materials known and conventional in the art. The release liner can be any of the conventional silicone liners known in the art for releasing organic pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA). Typically, a release liner comprises a flexible backing having at least one surface thereof treated, e.g., with a silicone release coating, to provide a low surface energy for the surface.
Paper facestocks are particularly useful because of the wide variety of applications in which they can be employed. Paper is also relatively inexpensive and has desirable properties such as antiblocking, antistatic, dimensional stability, and can potentially be recycled. Any type of paper having sufficient tensile strength to be handled in conventional paper coating and treating apparatus can be employed. Thus, any type of paper can be used depending upon the end use and particular personal preferences. Included among the types of paper which can be used are clay coated paper, glassine, polymer coated paper, paperboard from straw, bark, wood, cotton, flax, cornstalks, sugarcane, bagasse, bamboo, hemp, and similar cellulose materials prepared by such processes as the soda, sulfite or sulfate (Kraft) processes, the neutral sulfide cooking process, alkali-chlorine processes, nitric acid processes, semi-chemical processes, etc.
The pressure sensitive adhesive composition can be applied to the appropriate facestock, release liner or tape backing by a wide range of processes, including, solution coating, solution spraying, hot melt coating, extrusion, coextrusion, lamination, pattern coating, etc., to make the adhesive laminates of the present invention. Typically, it is applied to a substrate, e.g., release liner, such as polyethylene terephthalate coated with a silicone release material to form an adhesive/release liner laminate. The liner can have a microstructure on its surface that is imparted to the adhesive to form a microstructure on the adhesive surface. In the case of an adhesive transfer tape, it can be used as is or can be applied, e.g., laminated, to at least one side of a desired substrate, such as biaxially oriented polyethylene or high density polyethylene, to form an adhesive tape. When laminated onto only one side of a substrate, e.g., a backing film or a foam substrate, a single sided tape can be produced. When laminated onto both sides of a substrate, e.g., a film or a foam, a double-sided tape can be produced. Additionally, in the case of a double-sided tape, the tape can have the same or different adhesive on its sides, e.g., one adhesive may be a pressure sensitive adhesive, the other, a heat activated adhesive, or one adhesive is silicone based and the other is acrylic based.
Suitable backings for use in the adhesive articles of the present invention can include a wide range of substrate materials, examples being polymer films such as polyimide, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), and metallocene-polymerized poly(alpha-olefin) copolymers, foams, cloth, paper, treated paper, woven and nonwoven scrims, netting, mesh, and the like. Any suitable methods can be used to coat release liners. Typical release coating weights are greater than about 0.2 g/m2 and more typically are from about 0.7 g/m2 to about 1.9 g/m2. Additives such as for example, fillers, antioxidants, viscosity modifiers, pigments, release modifiers can be added to the release coatings to the extent that they do not alter the desired properties of the final product.
The laminated adhesive articles of the invention are tapes or labels that may contain additional layers such as primers, barrier coatings, metal and/or reflective layers, tie layers, and combinations thereof. Priming of the layer(s) may include a priming step such as chemical or mechanical priming. An example of a useful chemical primer is a solvent solution of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, epoxy resin, and polyamide resin.
The laminates of the invention may be exposed to post processing steps such as die cutting, heating to cause expansion of the article, e.g., foam-in-place, and the like.
Examples of polymer films used for making release liners include polyolefin, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), etc., and combinations thereof. The polyolefin films may comprise polymer and copolymers of monoolefins having from 2 to about 12 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment from 2 to about 8 carbon atoms, and in one embodiment 2 to about 4 carbon atoms per molecule. Examples of such homopolymers include polyethylene, polypropylene, poly-1-butene, etc. The examples of copolymers within the above definition include copolymers of ethylene with from about 1% to about 10% by weight of propylene, copolymers of propylene with about 1% to about 10% by weight of ethylene or 1-butene, etc. Films prepared from blends of copolymers or blends of copolymers with homopolymers also are useful. The polymer films may be extruded in mono or multilayers. Another type of material which can be used as the substrate is a polycoated kraft liner which is basically comprised of a kraft liner that is coated on either one or both sides with a polymer coating.
The major components of the silicone release coating compositions of the present invention are polyorganosiloxanes and, in one embodiment, the major components are polydimethylsiloxanes. The silicone release coating compositions used in this invention may be moisture cured, thermally cured, or radiation cured. Generally, the moisture curable and thermally curable compositions comprise at least one polyorganosiloxane and at least one catalyst (or curing agent) for such polyorganosiloxane(s). Such compositions may also contain at least one cure accelerator and/or adhesivity promoter (sometimes referred to as an anchorage additive). As is known in the art, some materials have the capability of performing both functions, i.e., the capability of acting as a cure accelerator to increase the rate, reduce the curing temperature, etc., and also as an adhesivity promoter to improve bonding of the silicone composition to the substrate. The use of such multifunctional additives where appropriate is within the purview of the invention.
A wide variety of polyorganosiloxanes, which are sometimes referred to as silicones, can be used in the practice of the invention. Such polyorganosiloxanes are also sometimes referred to as polymeric silicone resins, rubbers, oils or fluids. These compositions are well known and fully described in the literature. These compositions are comprised essentially of silicon atoms connected to each other by oxygen atoms through silicon oxygen linkages. The compositions used in the practice of the invention include polymers and copolymers having molecular weights in the range of about 5,000 to about 250,000. These polymers and copolymers should not have obtained such a degree of polymerization or condensation that they are no longer soluble in common hydrocarbon solvents such as xylene, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, and carbon tetrachloride. In general, any organic solvent having a boiling point equal to or less than that of xylene can be used in the compositions used in the practice of the invention. The solvent merely serves as a convenient vehicle or carrier for uniform application to the substrate. Thus, higher boiling solvents can be used but require so much time for their control that their use is not commercially economical. Various polyorganosiloxanes are commercially available in organic solvents in various percent solids concentration. Exemplary of the polyorganosiloxane materials which can be used in forming the silicone release coating compositions of the invention are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,258,218; 2,258,220; 2,258,222; 2,494,920; 3,432,333; and 3,518,325 which are incorporated herein by reference.
Suitable catalysts which can be employed in the curing of the silicone release coating compositions include various compounds containing metals such as tin, lead, platinum, rhodium, etc. Generally, the catalysts are tin, platinum or rhodium compounds such as the dialkyl tin esters. Specific examples of catalysts include: dibutyl tin diacetate, dibutyl tin di-ethylhexanoate, dihexyl tin di-2-ethyl hexanoate, ethyl tin trihexanoate, dibutyl tin dilaurate, octadecyl tin dilaurate, dibutyl tin diacetate, tri-butyl tin acetate, dibutyl tin succinate, various lead salts such as lead naphthenate and lead octoate, zinc octoate, zinc stearate, iron octoate, various organic peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide and 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide, and others well known in the art as curing agents or catalysts for polyorganosiloxane (silicone) materials. Useful catalysts include the carboxylic acid salts of organotin compounds containing at least one carbontin bond such as those previously mentioned. Metal complexes of platinum and rhodium are also useful. A particularly useful form of chloroplatinic acid is that composition obtained when it is reacted with an aliphatically unsaturated organosilicon compound such as divinyltetramethyldisiloxane, as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,419,593 incorporated herein by reference. Amines and amines derivatives such as diethylene triamine, triethylene tetramine and ethanol amine, as well as amine precursors such as the isocyanate compounds and amine-functional silanes such as gamma-aminopropyl triethoxy silane can also be used as curing catalysts. Amine salts of carboxylic acids can also be used. In one embodiment, the catalyst is a platinum metal complex.
The cure accelerators and/or adhesivity promoters that can be used in the silicone release coating compositions are also well known in the art. Exemplary of such cure accelerators and/or adhesivity promoters are amines, amine-functional silanes and amine precursors previously discussed as well as other silane derivatives such as acetoxy-functional silanes of the type vinyl and orthosilicates such as tetra(diethylene glycol monomethyl ether) silane. Isocyanate compounds that have been found to be effective in the practice of the invention include any isocyanate which is soluble in organic solvents and which has an average of at least two isocyanate groups per molecule.
At least some of these compounds also function as curing catalysts per se as well as cure accelerators and/or adhesivity promoters. The amount of curing agent or catalyst, cure accelerator and/or adhesivity promoter employed in the silicone release coatings of the invention can be varied widely depending upon the curing temperature, the particular catalyst used, the particular polyorganosiloxane materials selected, the particular cure accelerator and/or adhesivity promoter used, the substrate, desired curing time, etc. Usually the amount of any of such components will be in the range of 0.5 to 20 weight percent of the silicone material employed.
Curing of the polyorganosiloxane release coating material can take place at room temperature depending upon the particular silicone material used and the particular curing agent or catalyst used in conjunction with said silicone material.
The radiation-curable silicone release compositions that are useful can be cured by ultraviolet or electron beam radiation with or without the assistance of a photoinitiator such as benzophenone. One type of polyorganosiloxane which is useful in preparing radiation-curable release coatings contains acryloxy groups, methacryloxy groups, or combinations thereof. A variety of acryloxy or methacryloxy containing polyorganosiloxanes are known and can be used. These polyorganosiloxanes are typically fluids which have viscosities in the range of from about 25 cps to 10,000 cps. Polyorganosiloxanes of this type are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,878,263; 4,064,286; 4,301,268; 4,306,050; 4,908,274; 4,963,438; 4,978,726; and 5,034,491 which are hereby incorporated by reference for their disclosure of acrylate or methacrylate containing polyorganosiloxanes and methods of preparing polyorganosiloxanes containing acryloxy and/or methacryloxy groups.
The radiation-curable release compositions that are useful with the present invention optionally may contain at least one photoinitiator. The amount of photoinitiator included in the release compositions may range from about 0% to about 10%, more often from about 0.5% to about 5% based on the total weight of the radiation-curable composition.
The silicone release coating compositions that are useful can be in the form of solutions in organic solvents or emulsions in water, or they can be in neat form (solventless) when the silicone composition is a liquid. The silicone releasse coating compositions of the present invention can be applied to a substrate by known and conventional means.
Siloxane resins are known in the art. These resins, generally referred to as MQ resins, are soluble in aromatic solvents and contain M units, represented by the formula R3SiO1/2, and Q units, represented by the formula SiO4/2. It is recognized that while MQ resins are primarily made up of M and Q units, there can be up to 5 mole percent D units, represented by the formula R2SiO, and T units, represented by the formula RSiO3/2. R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group and includes groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, e.g., alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl; alkenyl radicals such as vinyl, allyl, ethylenyl, propenyl and hexenyl; and, cycloaliphatic groups such as cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl. R is advantageously methyl. The MQ resin is preferably a silanol-containing MQ resin having an M to Q ratio of from about 0.6:1 to about 1.2:1. The silicon-bonded hydroxyl group, or silanol, content of the MQ resin can range from about 0.2% to about 5%, advantageously from about 1% to about 3%, and better yet, from about 1.5% to about 2.5%, by weight of the total amount of MQ resin.
MQ resins are commercially available dissolved in an aromatic solvent such as xylene or toluene, generally as a 40 to 60 wt. % solution.
Fluoroalkylsilylation of the MQ resin is achieved by reacting the MQ resin with a fluoroalkylsilane possessing at least one hydrolyzable alkoxy or a halogen group.
Suitable fluoroalkylsilylation reaction conditions include the use of an aromatic solvent such as xylene or toluene, temperatures on the order of from about 50° to about 150° C., and advantageously from about 80° C. to about 120° C., ambient pressure (although moderate levels of subatmospheric or superatmospheric pressure may be utilized), for periods of from about 30 minutes to about 6 hours, and advantageously from about 1 to about 2 hours or until the reaction is substantially complete.
Among the suitable fluoroalkylsilane reactants are those represented by the general formula:
wherein R1 is a partly or totally fluorinated alkyl group of up to 26 carbon atoms and advantageously possess from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R2 is a chemically stable divalent bridging group linking fluoroalkyl group R1 with the Si, e.g., the group —(CH2)n— in which n is 2 to 20, the group —(CH2)n—X—(CH2)p— in which —X— is —O— or —C(O)O—, n is 0 to 2 and p is 5 to 25, or the group -Q-S—(CH2)q— in which Q is a divalent group containing at least one oxygen atom and q is 2 or 3; and R3 is alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aryl of from 6 to 8 carbon atoms, R4 is alkoxy or halogen, and r is 0, 1 or 2.
Illustrative of such fluoroalkylsilanes are 3,3,3-trifluoropropyltrimethoxysilane, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyltriethoxysilane, 3,3,3-trifluoropropylmethyldimethoxysilane, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyldimethylmethoxysilane, 4,4,4-trifluorobutyltrimethoxysilane, 4,4,4-trifluorobutyltriethoxysilane, 3,3,4,4,4-pentafluorobutyltrimethoxysilane, 3,3,4,4,4-pentafluorobutyltriethoxysilane, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyltrimethoxysilane, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyltriethoxysilane, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,10-heptadecafluorodecyltrimethoxysilane, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,10-heptadecafluorodecyltriethoxysilane, 15-(trifluoroethoxy)pentadecyltrimethoxysilane, 15-(trifluoroacetoxy)pentadecylmethyldiethoxysilane, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyldimethylchlorosilane, 3,3,3-trifluoropropylmethyldichlorosilane, 3,3,3-trifluorpropyltrichlorosilane, and the like. These and other fluoroalkylsilanes can be prepared by processes known in the art, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,633,004, 5,011,963, 5,202,452 and 6,323,356, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
The fluoroalkylsilylated MQ tackifier resin herein is combined with a silicone gum and, optionally, one or more known or conventional adhesive additives such as fillers, silane adhesion promoters, plasticizers, solvents, thixotropic agents, U.V. stabilizers, antioxidants, and the like, to provide a solvent-resistant pressure sensitive adhesive composition in accordance with this invention.
The silicone gum is typically a silanol-stopped polydimethylsiloxane, e.g., any of those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,214, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, and advantageously is a fluorosilicone polymer, e.g., any of those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,303, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. The term “fluorosilicone” refers to a polydimethylsiloxane in which some or all of the dimethylsiloxane units comprising the polymer are replaced by fluoroalkyl-methyl siloxane units. Fluorosilicone gums also possess increased solvent-resistance and have been found to exhibit good compatibility with the fluoroalkylsilylated MQ tackifier resins herein. The solvent-resistant properties of the fluorosilicones are obtained by the use of starting materials containing fluorosilicone homopolymers or copolymers of monomeric units such as SiR1R2O, also known as D; SiR1RFO, also known as DF; SiR1R3, also known as DR; SiR12R2O1/2, also known as M or M″ when alkenyl such as vinyl is present; and, SiR1R2RFO, also known as MF. In these monomeric units, R1 and R2 each, independently, is selected from alkyl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, and the like, alkenyl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms such as vinyl, allyl, propenyl, or hexenyl, and the like, and aryl groups such as phenyl and arylalkyl having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms. R3 is a silicon-containing pendent group of the general formula —OSiR1R2RF where R1, R2 and RF are as previously described.
Fluorosilicone gums and/or fluids of high viscosity, preferably of at least about 5000 cps at 25° C., are especially advantageous for combination with the fluoroalkylsilylated MQ tackifier resins herein. The fluorosilicone structures are high molecular weight gums or fluids containing silicone bonded organics including alkyls, aryls and arylalkyls, e.g., methyls and phenyls, and moieties including: trifluoroalkyls having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; fluorocyclics having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; perfluorinated alkyls having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; perfluorinated cyclics having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and, partially or fully fluorinated alkyl, alkenyl, ether or ester groups attached to backbone silicon atoms. The presence of moieties partially compatible with fluorosilicones such as silanol and vinyl are desirable.
The silicone gum can be incorporated in the solvent-resistant pressure sensitive adhesive herein at a level of from about 33 to about 75 wt. % of the total composition, on a solids basis.
Typical fillers suitable for addition to the solvent-resistant PSA compositions of this invention include fumed silica, precipitated silica and calcium carbonates. Treated calcium carbonates having particle sizes from about 0.07μ to about 4μ are particularly useful and are available under several trade names: Ultra Pflex, Super Pflex, Hi Pflex from Specialty in Minerals; Winnofil SPM, SPT from Zeneca Resins; Hubercarb lat, Hubercarb 3Qt and Hubercarb W from Huber and Kotomite from ECC. These fillers can be used either alone or in combination. The fillers can comprise up to about 200 parts per 100 parts of the fluoroalkylsilylated MQ resin component with from about 80 to about 150 parts filler per 100 parts of the fluoroalkylsilylated MQ resin being especially suitable for most adhesive applications.
Silane adhesion promoters can be employed at levels of from about 0.5 to about 5 parts per hundred parts of the fluoroalkylsilylated MQ resin, and advantageously from about 0.8 to about 1.5 parts per hundred parts fluoroalkylsilylated MQ resin. Suitable adhesion promoters include the silanes Silquest A-1120, Silquest A-2120, Silquest A-1170 and Silquest A-187, all of which are available from GE Silicones.
Exemplary plasticizers include phthalates, dipropylene and diethylene glycol dibenzoates and mixtures thereof, epoxidized soybean oil, and the like. Dioctyl and diisodecylphthalate are commercially available under the trade names Jayflex DOP and JayFlex DIDP from Exxon Chemical. The dibenzoates are available as Benzoflex 9-88, Benzoflex 50 and Benzoflex 400 from Velsicol Chemical Corporation. Epoxidized soybean oil is available from Houghton Chemical Corporation as Flexol EPO. The plasticizer can comprise up to about 100 parts of the fluoroalkylsilylated MQ resin and fluorosilicone gum combination, and advantageously from about 40 to about 80 parts per hundred parts of such combination being satisfactory in many cases.
Useful solvents include aromatic, aliphatic, halogenated, and ester solvents ranging in amounts of from about 25 to about 75 parts per hundred parts by weight of the fluoroalkylsilylated MQ resin and fluorosilicone gum combination.
Illustrative of useful thixotropic agents are various castor waxes, fumed silica, treated clays and polyamides. These additives typically comprise about 1 to about 10 parts per hundred parts of total fluoroalkylsilylated MQ resin and fluorosilicone gum combination with from about 1 to about 6 parts being useful for most applications. The thixotropes include those available as: Aerosil from Degussa, Cabo-Sil TS 720 from Cabot, Castorwax from CasChem, Thixatrol and Thixcin from Rheox and Dislon from King Industries. If the thixotrope is reactive with silane (e.g., silica), adjustments to the amount formulated may be needed to compensate therefor.
U. V. stabilizers and/or antioxidants can be incorporated into the pressure sensitive adhesive compositions of this invention in an amount of from 0 to about 5 parts per hundred parts fluoroalkylsilylated MQ resin and fluorosilicone gum combination with from about 0.5 to about 2 parts providing generally good results. These materials are available from Ciba-Geigy under the trade names Tinuvin 770, Tinuvin 327, Tinuvin 213, Tinuvin 622 and Irganox 1010.
After mixing, the PSA composition herein containing a conventional peroxide curing catalyst such as benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is cured by exposure to heat in order to drive off solvent and effect crosslinking. Curing conditions typically include several minutes exposure to ambient or warm conditions to remove solvent followed by several minutes exposure to oven conditions, typically 150-250° C., to effect decomposition of the BPO or other peroxide curing catalyst and initiate free radical crosslinking of the PSA composition.
The adhesive release force, of the laminates and pressure sensitive products of the present invention, is generally defined as the force required to peel the pressure-sensitive adhesive at a specified rate and angle from a release-coated surface. In the Examples disclosed herein below, the release force is determined using a 180 Degree Peel Adhesion Test (PSTC-101, 13th Edition). This test measures the peeling force necessary to remove a pressure-sensitive adhesive from a substrate when the peel load acts in a direction perpendicular to the applied adhesive.
In this test, pressure-sensitive adhesive strips are pressed into a release coated surface, and after aging, the release force is measured when the adhesive strips are peeled at a 90° angle at a speed of 12 and 300 inches per minute. The instrument used is a release and adhesion tester available from Testing Machines Inc. under the designation TMI Model No. 80-90-02-0003. The release force is expressed in grams/inch width.
Objects and advantages of this invention are further illustrated by the following examples, but the particular materials and amounts thereof recited in these examples, as well as other conditions and details, should not be construed to unduly limit this invention. All amounts listed in the tape preparations and examples are by weight unless otherwise specified.
The following examples are illustrative of the laminates employing pressure sensitive adhesives which display easy release of the label/adhesive lamina or tape/adhesive lamina from the liner without denigration of the adhesive properties of the fluorosilicone PSA.
Fluorosilicone gums were prepared by prior art at different mole % methyltrifluoropropylsiloxy units with dimethylsiloxy units. In the examples below the mole % methyltrifluoropropylsiloxy of these copolymers are provided. All copolymers were silanol terminated.
Resins were prepared by reaction under acid catalysis, (hydrochloric acid) with the silane disclosed in the examples by refluxing a toluene solution of resin containing approximately 2 wt % silanol functionality. As the reaction proceeded the fluorosilane/resin precipitated from the toluene solution and was isolated, dried at approximately 100-120° C. in a vacuum oven.
PSA/PET Example 1 was prepared with an uncoupled PSA blend from the following solution:
2.4 g 50 mole % methyltrifluoropropylsiloxy
4.8 g 20 mole % methyltrifluoropropylsiloxy
3.6 g 3,3,3-trifluoropropyltrimethoxysilane-treated MQ resin
25 g trifluorotoluene solvent (available from Sigma-Aldrich)
0.11 g benzoyl peroxide (BPO, 1% w/w) (available from Sigma-Aldrich)
PSA/PET Example 1 with resin to gum ratio of 0.5 was prepared by coating the PSA with a resin to gum ratio of 0.5 on 2 sheets of 2 mil PET substrate as a 10 mil wet coating, solvent removal and cure was by 5 minutes at 75° C. followed by 10 minute at 177° C. This coating proved to be 3 mil adhesive build after cure. A one inch strip of the PSA coated PET of PSA/PET Example 1 was affixed to a stainless steel panel and allowed to set for an hour at ambient conditions. The force required to peel PSA/PET Example 1 adhesive lamina from the stainless steel panel at 12 inches per minute, 180° angle was 589 g/in.
Conventional Release Coated PET Example 1 consists of a conventional adhesive silicone release coated PET substrate prepared from the following formulated coating:
1GE Advanced Material-Silicones: SL6625 is a vinyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane/inhibitor/platinum catalyst.
2SS4300c is a trimethylsiloxy terminated methylhydrogen-polysiloxane.
A #10 Meyer rod was used to apply the release coating on PET. The solvent was removed and the coating cured at 120° C. for 30 seconds dwell time in a forced air oven to furnish approximately 1.5 g/m2 coat weight adhesive silicone release coating on the PET liner.
Conventional Release Coated PET Example 2 consists of a conventional adhesive silicone release coated PET substrate prepared from the following formulated coating:
3Vinyl terminated methyltrifluoropropyldimethylpolysiloxane release coating available from GE Advanced Material-Silicones.
A #10 Meyer rod was used to apply the release coating on PET. The solvent was removed and the coating cured at 120° C. for 30 seconds dwell time in a forced air oven to furnish approximately 1.5 g/m2 coat weight adhesive silicone release coating on the PET liner.
Laminate Example 1 was prepared with a PET sheet bearing the fluorosilicone PSA of PSA/PET Example 1 affixed to the PET liner prepared with the conventional silicone release coating of Conventional Release Coat Example 1 and then laminated under nip pressure of a laboratory laminator to furnish a pressure-sensitive article consisting of PSA coated PET of Example 1 and the conventional silicone release coated PET of Conventional Release Coat Example 1.
Laminate Comparative Example 1 was prepared by lamination of the FSR20003 coated PET liner of Conventional Release Coat Example 2 with the PET-coated fluorosilicone PSA of PSA/PET Example 1.
One inch wide strips were cut from each construction of Laminate Example 1 and Laminate Comparative Example 2 and set aside for a day at ambient conditions. Release of the lamina prepared in Laminate Example 1 and Laminate Comparative Example 1 was recorded at a peel speed of 300 inch/min at 180 degree angle using the TMI tester. Release was tested periodically as the tapes were aged at ambient condition, with the results of Laminate Example 1 displayed in Table 1.
Peel delamination of Laminate Example 1 occurred with complete adhesive failure, i.e., no PSA adhered to the release surface after peel.
By comparison, all attempts to determine release of Laminate Comparative Example 1 failed, regardless of peel speed. The fluorosilicone PSA composition prepared in PSA/PET Example 1 would not release from the fluorosilicone coated release liner of Conventional Release Coat Example 2
A coupled fluorosilicone PSA with resin to gum ratio of 0.5 for PSA/PET Example 2 was prepared from the following ingredients:
Trifluorotoluene, NaOH solution, resin, and fluorosilicone gum were charged to a clean PSA reaction vessel equipped with a Dean-Stark trap. The trap was filled with trifluorotoluene as the reaction mixture was agitated for an hour under dry nitrogen, then refluxed at 115° C. for two hours. A small amount of aqueous layer was removed in the trap. Phosphoric acid was added, the mixture agitated for 30 minutes to yield a viscous solution that tested at 54.7% solids per weight loss at 150° C. for 45 minutes oven time.
The PSA of PSA/PET Example 2 was applied to a 2 mil PET substrate as a 2 mil wet build using a Gardner applicator at 30% solids with 1% BPO catalyst (w/w) added. Removal of solvent and cure was at 75° C. for 5 minutes followed by 10 minutes cure at 177° C. A 0.8 mil coating of PSA was obtained on PET to form PSA/PET Example 2 in similar fashion to PSA/PET Example 1.
A 1 inch strip of cured PSA/PET Example 2 was affixed to a stainless steel panel for an hour, and the peel adhesion of the tape from the panel measured at 12 inches per minute 180° angle was 397 g/in peel force.
Conventional Release Coated PET Example 3 consists of a branched conventional adhesive silicone release coated PET substrates prepared from the following formulated coating:
4Vinyl-terminated branched polydimethylsiloxane available from GE Advanced Material-Silicones.
A #10 Meyer rod was used to apply the release coating on PET. The solvent was removed and the coating cured at 120° C. for 30 seconds dwell time in a forced air oven to furnish approximately 1.5 g/m2 coat weight adhesive silicone release coating on the PET liner.
Laminate Example 2 was prepared by laminating PSA/PET Example 2 and Convention Release Coated PET Example 3 as described in Laminate Example 1, supra, to provide a laminate construction. One inch strips were cut from Laminate Example 2 and its release was recorded at a peel speed of 300 inch/min at 180° angle. Release was then tested periodically as the tapes were aged at ambient condition, with the results displayed in Table 2.
PSA/PET Example 3 was prepared as described in PSA/PET Example 2, above, except that a 20 mole % methyltrifluoropropylsiloxy gum, was substituted for the 30 mole % methyltrifluoropropylsiloxy gum. A viscous hazy solution, 54.7% silicone solids, was obtained. The fluorosilicone PSA composition was diluted to 30% solids in TFT, mixed with 1% (w/w) benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and applied to 2 mil PET using a Gardner applicator to provide an 8 mil wet build. Removal of solvent and cure by 5 minute exposure to 75° C. then 10 minute exposure to 177° C. resulted in a tacky 1.9 mil thick adhesive deposit. Peel adhesion of a one-inch strip of PSA/PET Example 3 from a stainless steel panel at 12 inches per minute 180° angle was recorded at a force of 440 g/in.
Laminate Example 3 was prepared by laminating PSA/PET Example 3 and Conventional Release Coated PET Example 1 as described herein above. The laminate construction of Laminate Example 3 was set aside at ambient conditions. One inch tapes were cut from the construction at periodic intervals, and the force required to peel the Conventional Release Coated PET Example 1 liner from the adhesive PSA/PET Example 3 was recorded at a 300 inches per minute 180° angle. Results obtained are displayed in Table 3.
The release results observed in Laminate Example 3 were clean (no adhesive residue on the liner) in each case. After the 12th day aged peel was measured.
A 1-inch by 6-inch tape from Laminate Example 3 was removed from the liner then affixed to a stainless steel panel followed by a one hour dwell. The peel adhesion of the strip from the panel was measured at a 12 inches per minute 180° angle. The peel adhesion result was 566 g/in in this case. Subsequent adhesion measured was greater than 100% (566/440) demonstrating no loss in peel adhesion when exposed to a release liner.
PSA/PET Example 4 was prepared in the same way as PSA/PET Example 3 described above, except that a 50/50 (weight) mixture of 20 mole % methyltrifluoropropylsiloxy and 30 mole % methyltrifluoropropylsilicone gums were used in place of 100% of the 20 or 30 mole % fluorogum. A viscous hazy solution, 54.3% silicone solids, was recovered as the product. The fluorosilicone PSA was diluted to 30% in TFT solvent, coated, and cured on 2 mil PET as described above, using 1 wt % BPO catalyst to furnish a 0.8 mil and 1.7 mil thickness of tacky adhesive on the PET substrate. 1 inch wide strips of the PSA adhesive-coated PET were applied to stainless steel panels, and allowed to set at ambient conditions for 2 hours. The force required to peel PSA/PET Example 4 from the steel panel at 12 inches per minute 180° angle was recorded with the results displayed in Table 4.
Laminate Example 4 was prepared by laminating PSA/PET Example 4 with Conventional Release Coated PET Example 1 as previously described. The force required to peel Conventional Release Coated PET Example 1 liner from PSA/PET Example 4 adhesive at 300 ipm peel speed was then recorded as a function of time following the lamination, with the results displayed in Table 5.
The coupled fluorosilicone PSA with resin to gum ratio of 0.75 for PSA/PET Example 5 was prepared as follows:
Trifluorotoluene, NaOH solution, resin, and fluorosilicone gum were charged to a clean PSA reaction vessel equipped with Dean Stark trap and reflux column. The trap was filled with TFT solvent as the reaction mix was refluxed for 2 hours under dry nitrogen. A small amount of aqueous phase was removed from the trap. Phosphoric acid solution was added, and the mix agitated for 30 minutes to yield a viscous solution, 52.3% solids per 150° C. weight loss on 45 minutes oven exposure.
PSA/PET Example 5 based on the 10 mole % methyltrifluoropropylsiloxy gum was adjusted to 30% solids in TFT, 1% (w/w) BPO curing catalyst added, then applied to 2 mil PET substrate as 3 mil (wet) thick coatings using a Gardner Applicator. Solvent removal and cure was affected by 5 minutes oven exposure at 75° C. followed by 10 minutes oven exposure at 177° C. One inch strips of the cured adhesives on PSA/PET Example 5 were prepared and affixed to clean stainless steel panels as previously described, and the peel adhesion measured at 12 inches per minute 180° angle was 292 g/in.
The coupled fluorosilicone PSA with resin to gum ratio of 1.29 for PSA/PET Example 6 was prepared in the same fashion as PSA/PET Example 5 as follows:
PSA/PET Example 6 based on the 10 mole % methyltrifluoropropylsiloxy gum was adjusted to 30% solids in TFT, 1% (w/w) BPO curing catalyst added, then applied to 2 mil PET substrate as 3 mil (wet) thick coatings using a Gardner Applicator. Solvent removal and cure was affected by 5 minutes oven exposure at 75° C. followed by 10 minutes oven exposure at 177° C. One inch strip of the cured adhesives on PSA/PET Example 6 was prepared and affixed to clean stainless steel panels as previously described, and the peel adhesion measured at 12 inches per minute 180° angle was 482 g/in.
The coated and cured PSAs of PSA/PET Examples 5 and 6 were laminated to various release liners using a 40 psi laboratory lamination device. One inch wide tapes were cut from these laminates and the peel release of the liner from the fluorosilicone PSA/PET lamina was measured at 12 inches per minute and 300 inches per minute both at 180° angle at certain intervals as the laminates were aged at room temperature under weights. The results are displayed in Table 6.
aUV9400 is a U.V. curable epoxysilicone release coating and UV9385c an iodonium photocatalyst available from GE Advanced Materials. A release coating was prepared from a mixture of:
The following Examples (Laminate Examples 5-8) were prepared to demonstrate conventional controlled release additives (CRA's) on release of thermal cure silicone liners from the fluorosilicone PSA of PSA/PET Example 4. PSA/PET Example 4 was prepared as described above. 1 mil of cured fluorosilicone PSA of PSA/PET Example 4 was deposited on the PET facestock after solvent removal and cure as described above.
PSA/PET Example 4 sheets were laminated to several different silicone release coatings applied and cured on 2 mil PET, as previously described above. The silicone release coatings formulations for the silicone release coatings that were applied to the PET liners of Laminate Examples 5-8 are presented in Table 7. The silicone release coating consisted of blends of SL66251 and SL66355 CRA with a typical crosslinker SS4300c1 and SiH/Vi ratio of 2.5. Release of the lamina from the release liners was recorded as a function of peel speed and laminate aging at room temperature. Results of the release of lamina from various liners are displayed in Table 8.
5SL6635 is a vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane/silicone resin composition of prior art available from GE Advance Materials as a control release additive to facilitate increase peel adhesion force during delaminating.
Controlled release liners and fluorosilicone PSA lamina such as shown above demonstrate that a small release differential is achieved at low concentrations of conventional controlled release additive (CRA) in release coating formulations. Above which, there is cohesive failure indicative of “lock-up” with inconsistent, albeit tight, release observed. The release coatings with the highest CRA content demonstrated failure to adhesively release as noted by the cohesive failure displayed in Table 9 above.
Both the coupled (i.e., condensation of the fluorosilicone gums with the fluoroalkylsilylated MQ resins) PSA materials and uncoupled blends (i.e., uncured resinous composition) of the same inputs, when combined with peroxide catalysts such as benzoyl peroxide (BPO), are readily applied to film substrates and crosslinked into useful PSA compositions. The resulting adhesive coatings, when laminated to silicone release liners, can be readily removed from the liners without loss of adhesive properties. Release has been shown to be consistent and stable as particularly displayed in Laminate Examples 1-4 and the Examples presented in Tables 7 and 9. As such, the instant invention demonstrates that pressure sensitive products, i.e., laminates, comprising fluorosilicone PSA can be releasably adhered to conventional silicone release liners. Release of the fluorosilicone PSA's from the liners tested herein, appear to be stable, or decreasing with laminate age. Further in this regard, release appears to be inversely related to fluoro content of the PSA, that is, higher methyltrifluoropropylsiloxy content of the gum component of the PSA leads to lower release.
While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the process of the invention but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
