Linerless Sheet Water-Soluble Protective Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheeting articles rely on silicone release liners, which generate waste and increase costs, and the removal of these liners can affect the peel adhesion properties of pressure-sensitive adhesives.
Innovation Solution
A linerless sheeting article is developed with a water-soluble protective layer comprising at least 50 wt-% solids of a water-soluble polymer and a polymer additive with a fluorinated or silane group, which can be easily removed with water, maintaining the adhesive's peel adhesion properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a silicone release liner is used to protect the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, then the adhesive is protected during storage and handling, but waste is generated and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protective function from the traditional silicone release liner and transfers it to a water-soluble protective layer applied directly to the adhesive layer. This eliminates the need for a separate liner material, thereby reducing waste while maintaining adhesive protection during storage and handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter of the protective layer from silicone-based (non-degradable) to water-soluble polymers (biodegradable). This parameter change enables the protective layer to dissolve in water, eliminating the need for disposal and reducing waste generation while maintaining the same protective function.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional silicone release liner is removed, then the adhesive layer is exposed for application, but the peel adhesion properties are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The water-soluble protective layer acts as an intermediary between the adhesive layer and the external environment. It provides a temporary protective barrier during storage and handling that can be easily removed with water just before application, thereby exposing the adhesive layer without affecting its peel adhesion properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition property of water-soluble polymers from solid protective layer to dissolved state in water. This phase transition enables easy removal of the protective layer by simply applying water, exposing the adhesive layer without mechanical stress that could affect peel adhesion.
3Loss of substance
If a water-soluble protective layer is used instead of a release liner, then waste is reduced and costs decrease, but the protective layer must be easily removable without affecting adhesive performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the protective layer to be water-soluble, which enables easy removal by simply applying water. This parameter change simultaneously achieves waste reduction (as the layer dissolves rather than being discarded) and maintains ease of operation (quick water-based removal).
Solution Approach 2:
The water-soluble protective layer functions as a temporary, disposable protective barrier that dissolves in water rather than being physically discarded. This approach reduces waste compared to traditional liners and provides easy removal, fulfilling both requirements of the contradiction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The water-soluble protective layer effectively replaces the conventional release liner, reducing waste and costs while ensuring minimal impact on the adhesive's initial and aged peel adhesion, with the adhesive exhibiting little change in moisture absorption as detected by FTIR spectroscopy.
Implementation Method 1
a water soluble protective layer disposed on the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. The water soluble protective layer comprises at least 50 wt-% solids of a water soluble polymer
Implementation Method 2
drying the aqueous coating composition
Data Source
AI summary
Presently described are linerless sheeting articles comprising a substrate, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on the substrate, and a water soluble protective layer disposed on the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. The water soluble protective layer comprises at least 50 wt-% solids of a water soluble polymer and a polymer additive comprising a fluorinated-group, a silane group, or a combination thereof. The polymer additive is typically present in an amount no greater than 5 wt-% solids. In a favored embodiment, the polymer additive is an oligomer. Methods of making and applying the sheeting article are also described.