Methods and compositions for ink jet printing of pressure sensitive adhesive patterns or films on a wide range of substrates

• Main Authors: EITZMAN DIANA M, YOUNG JAMES K, EVERAERTS ALBERT I, ELIASON KEVIN M, KOLB BRANT U, ANDERSON GREGORY J, CHEN KEJIAN, BANOVETZ JOHN P
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.04.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; ADHESIVES; APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; CHEMISTRY; COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES ORLACQUERS; COLOUR PRINTING; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; CORRECTING FLUIDS; DYES; FILLING PASTES; INKS; LINING MACHINES; MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVINGCARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS; METALLURGY; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS; MISCELLANEOUS COMPOSITIONS; NATURAL RESINS; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PAINTS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POLISHES; PRINTING; PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; PROCESSES FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TOSURFACES, IN GENERAL; SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; STAMPS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; TRANSPORTING; TYPEWRITERS; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR; WOODSTAINS

Methods, systems, and compositions that make it possible to form high resolution, pressure sensitive adhesive patterns or films on a wide range of substrates. The compositions generally incorporate a curable, fluid composition (i.e., pressure sensitive adhesive precursor). When cured, a pressure sensitive adhesive is formed. Ink jet printing and subsequent curing allows pressure sensitive adhesive features to be formed with high resolution and tremendous flexibility in the patterns by which adhesive features may be formed. Preferred embodiments of the invention incorporate rheology modifying agents that can be used to promote favorable dot gain and other printing characteristics, the ability to build print thickness, and mechanical properties of resultant cured adhesives.