Pressure sensitive adhesive articles and methods for preparing same

Abstract

An article that includes a substrate having a surface, at least a portion of which is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive composition that includes a blend of discrete, crosslinked polymer microspheres and a polymer matrix. The composition has a substantially smooth, exposed surface available for adhesion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An article comprising a substrate having a surface, at least a portion of which is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising a blend of discrete, crosslinked polymer microspheres and a polymer matrix, said adhesive composition having a substantially smooth, exposed surface available for adhesion.  
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said microspheres comprise tacky micro spheres.  
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said microspheres comprise solid micro spheres.  
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said microspheres comprise hollow micro spheres.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said microspheres comprise tack-free microspheres.  
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said microspheres comprise plastic microspheres.  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said microspheres comprise tacky, hollow microspheres.  
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive composition comprises between about 1% and about 75% by volume of said microspheres.  
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said microspheres have an average diameter between about 1 micrometer and about 300 micrometers.  
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said polymer matrix comprises an acrylic polymer.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of said adhesive composition on said substrate is between about 10 micrometer and about 300 micrometers.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said article is substantially transparent upon observation by the naked eye.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive composition is in the form of a substantially continuous coating on said surface of said substrate.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive composition is in the form of a discontinuous coating on said surface of said substrate.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said microspheres comprise the reaction product of isooctylacrylate, acrylic acid, and poly (ethylene oxide) acrylate.  
     
     
         16 . An article adapted for adhesion to the skin of a patient comprising a substrate having a surface, at least a portion of which is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising a blend of discrete, crosslinked polymer microspheres and a polymer matrix, said adhesive composition having a substantially smooth, exposed surface available for adhesion.  
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 16 , wherein said article is in the form of a skin patch.  
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 16 , wherein said article is in the form of a wound dressing.  
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 16 , wherein said article is in the form of an adhesive bandage.  
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 16 , wherein said article is in the form of an island dressing.  
     
     
         21 . A method of making an article comprising the steps of: 
 (a) preparing a pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising a blend of discrete, crosslinked polymer microspheres and a polymer matrix; and    (b) depositing said blend on a least portion of a substrate in the form of a coating,    the average microsphere diameter, the volume fraction of said microspheres in said composition and the thickness of said coating being selected such that said coating has a substantially smooth, exposed surface available for adhesion.