1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to release liner for adhered to surfaces of adhesive tapes, labels, or stickers and more particularly to a method of manufacturing release liners with improved characteristics (e.g., good tearablility, without causing fiber debris on torn edges, etc.)
2. Related Art
Conventionally, in order to provide a temporary protection to the adhesion property of the adhesive surface and to prevent a possible contamination to the adhesive surface, a release liner (e.g. release paper or release film) is commonly used to adhere to the adhesion surface of adhesive tapes, label stocks, or stickers for the protection of adhesive material thereof. At lease one surface of a release liner substrate is coated with release agent to provide a lower surface energy character. Typically, a release material is formed on the surface of the release paper to be adhered to the adhesive tape, label stock, or sticker. In addition to the protection purpose, the release paper is also easily peeled or torn prior to use.
The types of substrate for the release liner are comprised of super-calendered kraft paper mainly used by North American countries, glassine paper mainly used by European countries, polyolefin coated kraft paper mainly used by high humid countries including Japan and Taiwan. The other moisture resistance plastic films can also be used as a base substrates of liner due to their water resistance such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), Mylar polyester (PET), polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and so on, which are becoming popular recently.
The use of paper release liner is a very old art. Paper based release liners have the benefit of being easily tearable. However, it may cause fiber debris when tearing. Such may contaminate the environment. Thus, it is not acceptable in a dust free or clean room environment (e.g., in electronic factories or hospitals). Again, the polyolefin coated release paper cannot be recycled causing a burden to the environment. The disadvantages of release paper include: 1) comparable higher paper substrate cost in regions with fewer forest resources; 2) difficult to separate and recycle both organic and inorganic components contained in release paper. In the real practice, in order to avoid curving of release paper due to ambient temperature and humidity, release paper substrate is usually polyolefin coated in one side or both sides of the same, by means of extrusion curtain coating of polyethylene (PE) as a side sealing treatment using T-die extruder, because it is hard to separate the coated polyolefin from the paper substrate for recycling purposes, burning is finally used.
For plastic based release liners, they have the benefit of without causing fiber debris when tearing. However, it is not easy to tear because the extendable feature of plastic film has resistance to tear. In many cases, a knife, scissors or the like is required to cut the plastic release film into the desired length. This is not convenient. Furthermore, for a soft substrate release liner, polyethylene, it is characteristic of high elongation and/or high draw ratio with a drawing. It cannot be easily torn. It also ruins the torn edges into a morphological uneven and rugged surface. Further, tear with great force may damage the protected adhesive tape, label stock, or sticker thereunder. Thus, continuing improvements in the method of manufacturing an easily tearable release liner without the above drawbacks are constantly being sought.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing an easily tearable release liner to be temporarily adhered to the surface of an adhesive tape, label stock, or sticker. The material of the easily tearable release liner can be selected from a highly oriented plastic film with a higher mechanical strength, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), or the like, or biaxially-oriented or uniaxial-oriented plastic film, such as polymethylmethacylate (PMMA). This easily tearable release liner can be integrated to a double-sided adhesive tape. Both release liner and adhesive layer can be easily torn to have a segment of a desired length. The mechanical strength of this release film is strong enough for package applications and is adapted to be easily torn, and does not cause fiber debris when tearing and is acceptable in a dust free or clean room environment.
With this invention, it will cut down the demand of paper raw material from natural forest. The quality of this easily tearable plastic release liner is superior to the conventional paper release liner. It provides a uniform thickness, dimensional stability, and no curving deformation effect due to a less ???? moisture absorption. And it is an advantage for those countries lacking of natural forest and paper pulp. The easy tearable plastic release liner disclosed in the present invention has a more uniform thickness and is of better quality than conventional release paper. In addition, higher yield can be achieved during mass production lowering manufacturing costs.
In one aspect of the present invention, a release liner is manufactured by utilizing impression process to obtain a release liner being easily tearable to get a film of desired length. Many impression technologies can be applied in the manufacturing of easily tearable release liner substrate including a film substrate and an impression process for the formation of a plurality of micro-gaps. The impressed area can be selected as desired to form a randomly impressed pattern, or the whole area can be impressed. Both continuous-type impression cylinder roller sets and batch-type planar table-like impression machines are suitable for the impression process. The former, however, is more economical, and is more easily automated. The continuous-type impression cylinder assembly comprises an impression cylinder and one opposing cylinder. Both the cylinder roller set and planar table-like machine include an impresser and a transfer co-impresser. At least one of the two impressers comprises a plurality of fine protruding grains on the surface of the cylinder or plate (not shown). The protruding grains may be formed by using the following methods: 1) electroplating polyhedron diamond-like powders onto the surface of the impresser; 2) using a laser to engrave ceramic materials or metals formed on the surface of the impresser, such as anilox rolls; 3) using a mechanical tooling method and performing a surface hardening treatment, such as an annealing treatment or ultrasonic treatment, on the metal formed on the surface of the impresser, or plating a hard coating material on the surface of the impresser following a thermal treatment; 4) electrochemically etching and then performing a surface hardening treatment on the surface metal of the impresser. In addition, the opposing cylinder or plate, i.e. the co-impresser, is made of a metal with a relatively high hardness, such as steel, or ceramic.
It is appreciated that after executing the impression process, unlike the die cutting process, there is no weight loss on the film structures.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a release liner to be easily torn is provided. The method comprises the steps of i) applying a release agent on at least one surface of a single-layer or multi-layer film substrate; ii) drying or performing a solidification reaction on the single-layer or multi-layer film; and iii) impressing the single-layer or multi-layer film by means of a impressing roller set to form a plurality of micro-gaps thereon, thereby forming a release liner with characteristic of being easily tearable.
By virtue of an impression manufacturing in liner thickness direction from the top face to the bottom face, it forms a plurality of normally substantially closed micro-gaps. Each of the micro-gaps comprises a split seam portion within the liner surface; two edges of the seam are physically contacted to each other. The impressed area can be selected as desired to form a partial impressed area, or throughout the whole area.
In yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a release liner made of plastic material having a characteristic of being easily tearable as release paper without causing fiber debris.
The present invention resolves the problems cited in related arts by providing a substrate for easy tearable plastic release liner. In yet further aspect of this invention is to provide a plastic release liner that can be adapted in a wider range of temperature and the release agent can be coated on one surface to form a single-sided release liner or on both surfaces to form a double-sided release liner. Single-sided release liner can be used for protecting the adhesive surface of self-adhesion adhesive tape, label stocks or stickers; double-sided release liner can be used with easy tearable double sided adhesive tape rolls or stacking single sheets together.
The advantages of the easy tearable release liner obtained by the present invention include: 1) no fiber debris in torn edge, excellent for use in clean rooms; 2) can replace currently used release paper, which is hard to recycle; 3) variation of ambient temperature and humidity does not affect the thickness and length of the release liner in the present invention, while dry ambient can cause curving in paper substrates resulting in excessive loss during manufacturing of release paper; 4) it is also a benefit for those countries with fewer forest resources that the raw materials for the easy tearable plastic release liner in the present invention can be easily obtained without any restrictions, providing another alternative in release liner substrate that offers lower cost and better and more stable quality; 5) no additional release agent coating equipment for is needed, as the existing machinery can be used; 6) Manufacturing speed and yield are increased, as the release liner substrate in the present invention provides higher mechanical strength and a more uniform thickness.
It should be noted that the micro-gaps might have other shapes. Preferably, the shape of the micro-gaps is selected from groups consisting of linear shapes, conic shapes, pyramidal shapes, tetrahedral shapes, polygonal shapes, or cruciform shapes. Basically, the shape of the micro-gaps depends on the shape of the protruding grains on the surface of the cylinder or plate. The micro-gaps can be evenly distributed, or randomly distributed within the selected areas on the release liner surface.
In order to increase the anchor strength of the release agent during release agent coating process, the film substrates are surface treated by means of corona discharge treatment, flame treatment, plasma discharge, primer coating, etching, etc. Corona discharge treatment is the most commonly used method.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.
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The base substrate can be selected from a group of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), coextruded polyolefin film, polystyrene (PS), polypropylene synthetic paper or polyethylene synthetic paper etc.
Alternatively, the base substrate can be selected from a high temperature resistance, high chemical resistance, solvent resistance materials such as polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), polysulfone, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), polyurethane (PU), nylon, co-extrusion stretched film, composite film, or inorganic powder blended plastic film.
The tearable release liner of the invention has the following advantages. It is easy to tear and does not cause fiber debris. Consistent in uniform thickness can be formed. The effect of temperature and humidity on the liner dimensional stability is quite low as compared with a paper. It has excellent flatness and is easy to be processed. It is excellent in die cuttability. It is low cost and recyclable and has heatproof-ness and diverse applications.
The release agent can be selected from the following depending on the degree of release force. (i) Silicone release agent for providing prime release to medium release force. (ii) Non-silicone release agent comprises chromium complexes such as fluorochemical chromium complex; long side chain polymer such as polyvinyl octadecyl carbamates acrylate copolymer; and fluorochemical low adhesion backside such as fluorochemical side chain polymer. (iii) Organo-modified silicones. (iv) Hot melt additives release agent.
Release liner with different release force level:
Prime release, the release force is about 5-15 g/in.
Medium release or modified release system, the release force is about 15-150 g/in. For double-side adhesive tapes, release agents of different release forces are applied to both surfaces thereof.
For high release, the release force is about 120-500 g/in.
For drying or performing a chemical curing reaction on the release agent coated on the base liner substrate, a reaction catalyst, platinum, rhodium, or tin based catalysis system is optionally employed in release agent solution, and the means of reaction can be:
The initiation reaction of the above mentioned reactions can be a free radical initiated reaction, cationic initiated reaction, ene-thiol reaction, hybrid initiated reaction etc.
Different types of release agent solution, emulsion base and solventless, are available from Dow corning (Syl-Off), GE Silicones, Shin-Etsu, Wacker Silicones etc.
Release liner coating methods of the invention is selective upon the type of solution and the viscosity of release agent solution:
Base substrates of KBOPP/AC/PE film and KPET/AC/PE film are employed. Shin-Etsu solvent bas silicone release agent solution, KS-3703/KS-3800 is a release agent and toluene is a solvent. The prime silicone release agent and the solvent are mixed in three to one ratio prior to adding 2% CAT-PL-50T platinum catalyst. Use No. 8 meyer bar to coat the prepared release agent solution on corona treated surface of the PE film, KBOPP and KPET films. Next, heat the same in a heating compartment at 100° C. for one minute. Amount of coated silicone is 0.8 g/m2. Age the same at 25° C. with a relative humidity of 60% for one day. Pick up a 1″ wide release liner strip sample from the prepared material and stick with a 1″ Tesa7454 adhesive tape on the surface with release agent coated thereon. Adhere the surface of non-silicone coated release liner to a flat 304 stainless steel test plate via a double-side adhesive tape. Roll the same two times with a 2 Kg rubber roller. Keep the same at a constant normal pressure condition of 20 g/m2 at 70° C. Next, measure release force (in unit of g/inch) of the release film on the zero hour and on the 1st and 7th day after the test day respectively by means of a universal tensile tester in 180 degrees peel angle with a peel speed of 12 inches per minute. Moreover, peel the release film in 180 degrees peel angle with a constant peel speed of 12″ per minute in which peeling force (in unit of g/inch) measured on different days are tabulated in Table I:
KBOPP/AC/PE film represents 25 μm impressed biaxially oriented polypropylene/5 μm AC/25 μm t-die extrusion coated PE film; KPET/AC/PE film represents 25 μm impressed KPET film/5 μm AC/25 μm t-die extrusion coated PE film; and AC represents anchor coating.
Base substrates of KBOPP/AC/PE film and KPET/AC/PE film are employed. A low temperature cured Shin-Etsu silicone release agent solution, KS-847T is solvent base, and toluene is as a solvent. Both release agent solution and the solvent are mixed prior to adding 2% CAT-PL-50T platinum catalyst. Use No. 8 meyer bar to coat the prepared release agent formulation solution on the corona treated PE, KBOPP and KPET surfaces of the base release liners. Next, heat the same in a heating compartment at 90° C. for one minute for curing. Amount of coated silicone is 0.7 g/m2. Age the same at 25° C. with a relative humidity of 60% for one day. Pick up a 1″ wide release liner strip sample from the prepared material and stick with a 1″ wide Tesa7454 adhesive tape on the surface with release agent coated thereon. Adhere the surface of the non-silicone coated release liner to a flat 304 stainless steel test plate via a double-side adhesive tape. Roll the same two times with a 2 Kg rubber roller. Keep the same at a constant normal pressure condition of 20 g/m2 at 70° C. Next, measure release force (in unit of g/inch) of the release liner at the zero hour and on the 1st and 7th day after the test day respectively by means of a universal tensile tester in 180 degrees peel angle with a peel speed of 12″ per minute. Moreover, peel the release liner in 180 degrees peel angle with a constant peel speed of 12″ per minute in which peeling force (in unit of g/inch) measured at different days are tabulated in Table II:
KBOPP/AC/PE film represents 25 μm impressed biaxially oriented polypropylene/5 μm AC/25 μm t-die extrusion coated PE film; KPET/AC/PE film represents 25 μm impressed KPET film/5 μm AC/25 μm t-die extrusion coated PE film; and AC represents anchor coating.
Base substrates of KBOPP/AC/PE film and KPET/AC/PE film are employed. Al wt % of polyvinyl octadecyl carbamate non-silicone release agent solution. The release agent and the toluene solvent are mixed prior to coating the prepared solution on the corona treated PE, KBOPP and KPET surfaces of the base release liners by No. 150 mesh gravure coater. Next, heat the same in a heating compartment at 100° C. for one minute. Amount of coated weight is 0.07 g/m2. Dry the same in 65° C. with humidity of 60% for one day. Pick up a 1″ wide release liner strip sample from the prepared material and stick with a 1″ wide Tesa7454 acrylic adhesive tape and WQ4012 rubber adhesive tape on the surface with release agent coated thereon. PSTC-6 test method is applied: measure release force (in unit of g/inch) of the release liner by means of a universal tensile tester in 180 degrees peel angle with a peel speed of 0.3 m per minute and 50 m per minute respectively at different temperatures as tabulated in Table III, IV, and V:
An advantageous of the present invention is that the base substrate of the release liner is selected from a higher mechanical strength plastic and a higher draw-ratio film and thus is not easy to be ripped during the manufacturing process. When this easily tearable release liner is integrated to the adhesive tapes, label stocks or stickers, the release liner has tearablility as paper but does not cause fiber debris. Thus, it is acceptable application in a dust free, clean room, or a product assembly line environment. Another advantageous of the present invention is that the release force of release liner manufactured according to the present invention is flexible designed upon requirement by controlling impressing micro-gap density and times and selecting the material of the release agent and base substrate.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.